Abstract
The relationship between smoking and occupational stress was explored among 149 Registered Nurses enrolled in a self-help smoking cessation program. Data regarding demographics, smoking history and status, stress-related coping behavior, and the Nurse Stress Index were collected. Little evidence was found for an association among stress, current smoking dosage, likelihood of cessation, and relapse. Nurses reporting higher levels of stress were more likely to smoke when needing stimulation than when nervous, frustrated, or bored. These findings suggest a complex link between nurses' smoking and work-related stress. This is relevant to understanding smoking and smoking cessation among women in general and particularly among women in the workplace.
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