Employment Characteristics and Socioeconomic Factors Associated with Disparities in Smoking Abstinence and Former Smoking Among U.S. Workers

Purpose. This study examines the associations among employment and socioeconomic factors and the outcomes, current smoking, cigarette abstinence and former smoking among adult U.S. workers ages 18–64 (n###5###288,813). Methods. Multivariate logistic regression was used to examine the associations among the variables using cross-sectional data from the 1998–1999 and 2001–2002 Tobacco Use Supplements to the Current Population Survey. Results. Lower odds of current smoking was observed among part-time workers compared to those working variable hours and multiple job holders compared to persons holding one job. The self-employed, part-time workers and multiple job holders had higher odds of former smoking than comparison groups. Employment factors were not associated with short-term abstinence or 12-month abstinence from smoking, but income, education, marital status, and duration of smoking were associated with 12-month abstinence. Conclusions. These data suggest that while employment factors are associated with current and former smoking, socioeconomic factors are associated with long-term quitting.