Published Paper Details:

The study aimed to unfold the social, cognitive, and behavioural motives behind smoking dependence in relation to stress among young adults. A sample of 100 subjects in the age group between 18 and 25 was selected through purposive sampling. To assess these variables, tools including Wisconsin Index of Smoking Dependence Motives (WISDM) (Piper ME, Piasecki TM, Federman EB, Bolt DM, Smith SS, Fiore MC, Baker TB. 2004). Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) Cohen, S., & Williamson, G. (1988) were used. The data obtained were analysed using Pearson correlation coefficient. The results showed that there existed a significantly positive correlation all the 11 motivational domains and stress , starting with affiliative attachment(r= .415**, p <0.01) , automaticity(r= .419**, p<0.01), loss of control(r= .289**, p<0.01), cognitive enhancement(r= .370**, p<0.01), craving(r= .466**, p< 0.01), cue exposure/associative processes(r= .418**, p<0.01), Affective Enhancement(r= .418**, p<0.01), social/environmental goals(r= .242**, p<0.01), taste/sensory properties(r= .396**, p<0.01), While Tolerance(r= .096, p<0.01) and weight control (r= .414**, p<0.01) had comparatively weaker positive correlation with stress The study gives an overall understanding as to how a person cope with stress depending on smoke and what are the motivations behind smoking. This suggests a potential intervention scope for either of the two variables to curb various mental health conditions with physical health and, other emotional difficulties.