Personality and Sexual Behavior of the Adolescent Smoker

Abstract

The adolescent smoker (aged 14 to 17 years) shows little difference from the non-smoker in terms of scores on the Cattell 16 personality factor inventory. In particular, there is no evidence of tension, extroversion, or reversal of sexually-biased personality characteristics. The sexual promiscuity of the adolescent smoker is probably related more to liberal attitudes and a propensity for risk-taking behavior than to uncertainty regarding sexuality. In this age group the decision to start smoking regularly may depend more on the influence of parents and friends than on an inherent personality structure.