Twin analysis as a potential tool for examining psychosocial factors associated with and preceeding smoking behaviors

Data from the young cohort of the Swedish Twin Registry are being used in an attempt to describe characteristics which distinguish among current, non- and ex-smokers prior to the development of a smoking habit versus those present after establishment of the habit (or lack of one). With twins as a sample of individuals, the psychosocial variables instability, extroversion, leisure activity, relative weight, alcohol, coffee and psychopharmaceutic drug use were examined jointly as predictors of current smoking status in multiple regression analyses. This phase was intended to replicate and expand upon earlier studies characterizing current, non- and ex-smokers. These analyses were then performed on MZ nonsmoking twin individuals who were classified on the basis of their cotwins' smoking status. Pattern of variation in the psychosocial variables across the groups of nonsmokers were similar to the pattern seen for current, ex- and nonsmokers. Characteristics in MZ nonsmokers which are predictive of their cotwins' smoking status may be interpreted as those present prior to development of a smoking habit. Selected results from these analyses will be presented.