Time preference, psychographics, and smoking behavior.
Following the lead of recent independent economic and consumer behavior theories in health behavior, the author investigates the link between three sets of variables and smoking status and intensity. Data from a nationwide survey show that consumer psychographic dimensions provide more meaningful and valid predictors of smoking intensity than consumer time preference and demographic characteristics. The time preference measures show that smoking decisions also involve economic-like choices. The three sets of predictive variables were able to discriminate smoking status (smokers, nonsmokers, and ex-smokers). Implications for public policy makers are discussed.