Psychological profile of college students who use smokeless tobacco

The purpose of this study was to develop a psychological profile of smokeless tobacco users. We surveyed 1991 college students regarding their use of tobacco products. Twenty-one percent of the white males used smokeless tobacco compared to only 10.4% of blacks, 5.4% of Hispanics, and 5.4% of others, primarily Asians. Although the prevalence of smokeless tobacco use reported by Asians was relatively low, their rate of reported smoking was over twice s high as any other enthnic group, 43.6%. The most important reasons for beginning to use smokeless tobacco were to "see if I would enjoy it," 'most friends used it," and "try something new." The personality of the smokeless tobacco users differed from that of smokers and non-users of tobacco. College students with the highest probability of being a smokeless tobacco user were white males who scored higher in extraversion and neuroticism but lower on state anxiety than non-users.