Association Between Anxiety and Smoking in a Sample of Urban Black Men

Background Anxiety and smoking associations have been examined previously, but not in high risk populations of smokers, such as black males, who bear an excess burden of smoking-related illnesses. Methods This study assessed the relation between self-reported smoking status and anxiety using data collected by structured telephone interviews with a sample of 430 black, middle-aged males participating in an ongoing cancer prevention trial. Results There was a significant association between anxiety caseness and smoking (p = .006), with more probable cases among current smokers. A priori t-tests showed that current smokers had greater anxiety than former and nonsmokers (p's = 0.02). Among current smokers, greater anxiety was associated with heavier smoking (p = .008), an association not present among former smokers. Discussion This study could guide future experimental studies examining smoking-anxiety associations and inform intervention strategies addressing anxiety in underserved nicotine dependent populations with high tobacco-related risks.