Emotional and affective temperaments and cigarette smoking in a large sample.

BACKGROUND: Tobacco use has been associated with externalized personality traits. Our aim was to evaluate the association of smoking with emotional and affective temperaments in a large sample.

METHODS: In this cross-sectional web-based survey, volunteers completed the Combined Emotional and Affective Temperament Scale (CEATS), which assesses emotional (fear, drive, anger, and control) and affective temperaments (e.g. cyclothymic, irritable), and questions about smoking.

RESULTS: Among the 5379 subjects (1370 males), there were 60% non-smokers, 17% quitters and 23% current smokers. Non-smokers had higher fear and control and lower anger than quitters and smokers, and higher drive than smokers. Quitters had higher drive and control and lower anger than smokers. Smoking was lower among apathetics, depressives, euthymics and hyperthymics and higher in cyclothymics and labiles. Lower drive and higher anger were associated with heavier smoking. Less adaptive temperament was related to higher prevalence of and heavier smoking.

LIMITATIONS: The data was collected from a convenience sample by the internet, and most volunteers assessed the instrument through a psychoeducational website for bipolar spectrum disorders, leading to a higher proportion of cyclothymics; the assessment of smoking habits was limited to two questions; the study was cross-sectional.

CONCLUSIONS: Smoking was associated with lower fear, control and drive, higher anger and unstable externalized affective temperaments. Lower control and higher anger were associated with being a heavy smoker and current smoking. Assessment of temperament may help decision about treatments for smoking cessation.