Examining Associations Between Smoking Patterns and Employment Status Among a Nationally Representative Sample of...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Occupational Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Smoking remains a leading preventable cause of death in the U.S.
• Prevalence of smoking varies significantly across different occupations and industries.
• Post-COVID-19 work environment shifts and evolving tobacco use patterns necessitate updated data analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine recent data on the associations between smoking status, employment status, and industry.
• To identify specific industries with high smoking prevalence.
• To understand the relationship between unemployment and smoking behaviors.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of data from the 2023 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS).
• Inclusion of adult participants (≥18 years) categorized by employment (employed/unemployed) and smoking status (current/former/never).
• Utilized weighted multinomial logistic regression to assess associations between smoking, employment, and industry.

Main Results:

• Among 26,442 adults, 11.0% were current smokers. Highest current smoking rates observed in wholesale trade (20.5%), information (16.9%), and mining (15.9%) industries.
• Unemployed individuals, particularly those unable to work due to health reasons, exhibited significantly higher odds of current smoking (AOR=1.93) and former smoking (AOR=1.35) compared to employed individuals.
• Prevalence of employment was 69.7% in the study sample.

Conclusions:

• Current smoking rates are elevated in specific industries, indicating a need for targeted occupational interventions.
• Unemployed individuals, especially those with health limitations, represent a high-risk group for smoking cessation programs.
• Public health policies must address the distinct needs of both employed and unemployed populations to mitigate smoking-related health disparities.