[Smoking habits in relation to socioeconomic factors]

Smoking habits are analyzed by SEG for men and women, aged 15-74. The SEGs are constructed using education and income and here only the middle-class, with three sub-groups, is considered. Over-achievers are more often smokers. There are less quitters and more heavy smokers in this sub-group than among under-achievers. Smoking habits of female over- and middle-achievers are similar to those of male over-achievers. Female and male under-achievers show similar smoking habits. These observations are consistent with the hypothesis that socio-economic factors are influential in determining smoking habits.