Social Bonds, Early Trauma and Smoking: Evidence of the Group Specific Relevance of Control Theory

Abstract

This study analyzes data from a national sample of 595 adults to simultaneously evaluate the potential effects of social bonds and childhood trauma on tobacco smoking. Although both control factors and childhood experiences were found to affect smoking, religious belief and belief in the importance of conforming to moral and social norms had more important and robust negative relationships to smoking than commitment, attachment, or involvement social bonds. But, whereas childhood trauma appeared to promote smoking among both college educated and less educated persons, control factors significantly inhibited smoking only among the less educated. Implications for future drug research as well as anti-smoking campaigns and other anti-drug programs are discussed.