Personality characteristics of users of smokeless tobacco compared with cigarette smokers and non-users of tobacco products

This study compares the personality characteristics of men who use smokeless tobacco (ST) products with smokers and non-users. The Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ), the State-Trait Personality Inventory (STPI), and the Anger Expression (AX) Scale were given to a heterogeneous sample of 755 men residing in Florida and Texas, consisting of 275 ST-Users, 272 smokers, and 208 non-users. Participants were screened to ensure adequate reading ability, and were tested individually at convenience stores, gun and boat shows, barbecue and truck-stop restaurants, and a county fair. ST-Users and smokers had significantly higher mean EPQ Psychoticism and STPI Trait Anger scores than non-users. Smokers also had significantly higher EPQ Neuroticism and Anger-In scores, and were lower in trait curiosity than non-users; the scores of the ST-Users on these measures fell between those of the smokers and non-users, and did not differ significantly from either group. Although no differences in Extraversion were found between ST-Users, smokers and non-users, Occasional ST-Users had significantly higher E scores than Regular Users of smokeless tobacco products.