Association between personality traits and smoking cessation among Chinese adults

Abstract

Abstract Background China is the largest producer and consumer of tobacco worldwide. However, little is known about the association between smoking cessation and personality traits in China. Moreover, although the association between smoking cessation and personality traits has been documented, thus far, only a few studies have analyzed this phenomenon using a nationally representative dataset. Aim This study aimed to examine the association between successful smoking cessation and personality traits among Chinese adults. Methods This cross-sectional study used data from the 2018 China Family Panel Studies. Probit regression models were employed to analyze the association between successful smoking cessation and personality traits stratified by sex. Results Lower scores for neuroticism (Coef.=-0.055, p<0.1), lower scores for extraversion (Coef.=-0.077, p<0.05), and higher scores for openness to experience (Coef.=0.045, p<0.1) predicted being a successful male quitter after adjusting for demographics. Moreover, lower scores for conscientiousness (Coef.=-0.150, p<0.1) predicted being a successful female quitter after adjusting for demographics. Conclusion The empirical findings suggested that among Chinese men, lower levels of neuroticism, lower levels of extraversion, and higher levels of openness to experience were associated with a higher likelihood of smoking cessation. Moreover, lower levels of conscientiousness were associated with successful smoking cessation among Chinese women. These results showed that personality information should be included in smoking cessation interventions.