Personality Characteristics in the Mid-Forties Predict Women's Smoking Cessation in Their Mid-Sixties

Abstract

This study examined whether personality characteristics measured when a woman is in her mid-40s can predict success in sustained smoking cessation 22 years later, when the woman is in her mid-60s. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted on data from a sample of 195 women (M ages 43 and 65, respectively), who were regular smokers and participated in a longitudinal study from 1983 to 2009. The results suggest that women who exhibited low self-control, high resistance to rules, impulsivity, and sensation seeking in their mid-40s were significantly less likely to succeed in quitting smoking for a period of 5 years or more by the time they reached their mid-60s. Addressing some personal characteristics in smoking cessation programs might enhance their effectiveness and success.