Tobacco smoking in a high-IQ society in Indonesia

Individuals with higher intelligence are often believed to be more aware of the health risks associated with smoking and more inclined to adopt healthier lifestyles. This study investigates the prevalence of smoking among high-IQ individuals in Indonesia, providing insights that could inform targeted health interventions.

This is a cross-sectional study conducted in a population with high IQ. An online-based survey form was distributed to all active members of the Mensa high-IQ society in Indonesia over a three-month period (October to December 2024). The survey form collected sociodemographic data and queried participants about their smoking status and related details. The primary outcome of interest was the smoking habits of the subjects.

A total of 102 respondents aged ≥18 years participated in the study, which involved 73 men (71.6%) and 29 women (28.4%), with a mean age of 33.8 ± 10.2 years. The overall smoking prevalence among high-IQ individuals in Indonesia was 10.8%, with 12.3% of men and 6.9% of women currently smoking. Additionally, 9.8% were former smokers, leading to a total current or past smoking rate of 20.6%. This number is dramatically lower than the national smoking prevalence, which currently stands at around 40.3%. Although various sociodemographic factors were assessed, none showed a statistically significant association with smoking status in this population.

The prevalence of tobacco smoking among high-IQ individuals in Indonesia is 10.8% which is significantly lower than the national average. Although no statistically significant associations were found between sociodemographic variables and smoking status, smokers tended to have a family member who smoked, and individuals with higher annual incomes were less likely to smoke.