Smoking and the female professions: pre-occupational influences on the behaviour of recruits to nursing and teaching.

Abstract

A questionnaire and interview study of female recruits to nursing and teaching showed that occupational differences in the prevalence of smoking are already established at entry to training. The social characteristics of the smokers in the sample corresponded to those of women smokers generally. Differences in education and social origin contributed to occupational variations in behaviour. The influence of sibling behaviour and parental opinion operated differently within the two occupational groups. The psychological attributes of individuals attracted to a particular profession may also contribute to occupational patterns, specifically risk-taking and a concern for personal freedom.