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

Abstract

Background: 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. Aims: To explain nicotine dependence based on the role of anxiety, depression and stress, and to assess the moderating effect of personality dimensions. Method: 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. Results: 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). Conclusions: Those with low self-efficacy, perseverance, and avoidance personality traits tend to be more dependent on smoking than others.

Keywords

• nicotine dependence
• personality
• anxiety
• depression
• stress