The link between tobacco smoking and susceptibility to misinformation

This study investigates the relationship between tobacco smoking and susceptibility to misinformation, an area that has been underexplored despite its potential implications for public health and media literacy. Smoking behavior, along with the pharmacological components present in tobacco, is often associated with habitual and cognitive patterns that may influence an individual's ability to critically evaluate and discern false information. By examining this potential link, the present study aims to shed light on the broader implications of smoking for societal challenges, such as the spread of misinformation.

A quantitative online survey was conducted to collect data from a sample of 1,575 adult participants (M_age = 41.37, SD = 13.58; females: 54%, males: 46%) from the United Kingdom. Participants were categorized into three groups based on their smoking status: individuals who had smoked tobacco less than an hour before the study (n = 550), individuals who had smoked more than an hour before the study (n = 472), and non-smokers (n = 553). The survey incorporated questions assessing susceptibility to misinformation by annotating certain claims as false or true, and other instruments in order to control for impulsivity, stress level, physiological arousal and education level.

Smokers exhibited a lower ability to correctly recognize false claims than non-smokers. There was no difference between these groups in true news recognition.

The study, controlling for confounding factors, such as education and perceived stress, reveals that tobacco smoking may be associated with misinformation susceptibility. Further laboratory-based research should be conducted to explore the mechanisms underlying the observed relationship.