Smoking and financial stress

Abstract

AIM: Stress relief is commonly provided as a reason for smoking. However, it is plausible that the cost of smoking may create financial stress, particularly among the poor. The aim of the study was to examine the relationship between smoking and financial stress. DESIGN: Cross sectional survey of households from private dwellings conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), using a stratified multistage area sample design. SETTING: Australia, 1998-99. PARTICIPANTS: Nationally representative sample of households (n = 6892). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The outcome measures of objective financial stress were two dichotomous variables indicating whether the household had experienced any fi..