Sociocultural and physiological correlates of cigarette smoking in women

Cigarette smoking is a major modifiable risk factor for cancer and coronary heart disease and the chief avoidable cause of death in the United States. Over the past few decades, the prevalence of cigarette smoking among males has significantly decreased. However, the same significant decrease has not been seen among women. Researchers have identified sociocultural factors and physiological correlates associated with women's cigarette smoking. It is essential that health care professionals understand the findings of research on women's smoking if they wish to identify and counsel women at risk and to define directions for future research.