Abstract

This research was to investigate the smoking motivation of female smokers. Specifically, smoking expectation and motivation were investigated with regard to sex (male smokers vs. female smokers) and smoking experience (female smokers vs. female non-smokers). In addition. female smokers' psychological characteristics were explored by observing the relations among drinking expectation. eating self efficacy, and smoking expectation. Smoking motivation was divided into 5 factors: need for negative affect control (anger, irritation. anxiety), need for pleasurable relaxation (boring situation with non-stimulus), habitual smoking, need for mental activity, and need for social appeal. The main results revealed that there was difference between male and female in the smoking motivation. as shown in previous studies. More specifically, the major findings were as the following: (1) Compared to male smokers who in general expect to overcome a boring and lack of stimulus situation. the female smokers want to control their negative affects by smoking in an anxious and irritating situation. (2) Regarding the relation between drinking expectation and eating self efficacy, the female smokers have a strong motivation as much as the male smokers do. (3) Compared to the non-smoking group, the smoking group is relatively lack of control over eating: the non-smoking group have control over drinking and eating compared to smoking group. The present study implies the necessity of further study focusing on the relation between smoking motivation and the individual's developmental stage, perhaps such as oral stage.