Predicting cigarette smoking by depression, anxiety and stress; assessment moderating role of personality dimensions

Numerous studies have predicted depression, anxiety, stress, and personality traits in drug addicts. But predicting nicotine dependence based on depression, anxiety and stress; The study of the effect of adjusting the dimensions of personality has been neglected.

To explain nicotine dependence based on the role of anxiety, depression and stress, and to assess the moderating effect of personality dimensions.

This was a descriptive cross-sectional study. The statistical population consisted of male students of Tehran University in 2019, among whom 5 were selected as available and were studied in two groups of smoker and nonsmoker. Measurement tools were: Nicotine Dependence Syndrome Scale (NDSS) (Schiffman et al., 2004), Depression, Anxiety and Stress Questionnaire (DASS-21) (Lovebound, 1995), and the Cloninger Nature and Character Inventory (TCI-56). (Cloninger, 1987). Data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of variance and logistic regression analysis.

The mediating effect of personality dimensions was significant (p <0.001). The difference in stress between the two groups was moderated by the personality components of self-efficacy, perseverance, and avoidance, and the difference in depression with self-esteem and reward; and the difference in anxiety with self-efficacy was significant (p< 0/001).

Those with low self-efficacy, perseverance, and avoidance personality traits tend to be more dependent on smoking than others.