SDSU Study Reveals Female Smokers Underperform in the U.S. Navy

Smokers more likely to be demoted, to desert and to earn less than non-smoking colleagues

Contact:
Gina Speciale
SDSU Marketing & Communication
(619) 594-4563 office
speciale@mail.sdsu.edu

SAN DIEGO (Thursday, March 29, 2007) —Smokers make poorer workers.  That is the finding of a study of U.S. Navy female service members done by San Diego State University public health lecturer Terry Conway and colleagues.  The findings will be published in the April issue of Tobacco Control.

The study “Women’s Smoking History Prior to Entering the U.S. Navy: A Prospective Predictor of Performance” found that female smokers enlisted in the U.S. Navy performed worse over the course of their Navy career than non-smokers. The smokers were more likely to leave the Navy prior to completing their term of enlistment, have a less than honorable discharge, to be demoted, to desert and to earn less than their non-smoking colleagues, Conway said.

“This study suggests that helping people to quit smoking before enlisting in the U.S. Navy may help improve performance,” said Conway.  “However, cigarette smoking might simply be a ‘marker’ for other underlying factors, such as non-conformity and high risk taking that may also contribute to poorer performance in the military.”

The findings are based on an analysis of the career progression of women entering the U.S. Navy over a period of 12 months between 1996 and 1997.  The women’s progress was tracked for approximately eight years. Time in service, the proportion being discharged early or facing disciplinary procedures, as well as promotions, demotions, absences without leave, and pay grades were all examined.

Of the 5,500 women included in the study, some 45 percent had never smoked, but 27 percent were daily smokers when they enlisted. The remainder was ex-smokers and those who only smoked occasionally.

Compared with non-smokers, daily smokers were less likely to enlist for eight years, and they were significantly more likely to leave before they had served their full term. Non-smokers achieved the longest period of service; daily smokers achieved the shortest.  Regular smokers were significantly more likely than non-smokers to be discharged for medical reasons, bad behavior or misconduct, including drug misuse, and personality disorders. In addition, significantly fewer regular smokers re-enlisted.

“We also found that on average, non-smokers were paid more than daily smokers, even after taking into account educational attainment and time in service,” Conway said.

The performance of those who had smoked in the past or were occasional smokers typically fell somewhere in between that of non-smokers and daily smokers.

Historically, the prevalence of smoking among U.S. military personnel has been higher than among civilians. There are currently approximately 59,000 women serving in the U.S. Navy. 

San Diego State University is the oldest and largest higher education institution in the San Diego region. Since it was founded in 1897, the university has grown to offer bachelor's degrees in 81 areas, master's degrees in 73 areas and doctorates in 16 areas. SDSU's more than 34,000 students participate in an academic curriculum distinguished by direct contact with faculty and an increasing international emphasis that prepares them for a global future. For more information, visit www.sdsu.edu.

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