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 (ps = 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.