Impulsivity, Sensation Seeking, Adverse Childhood Experiences, Psychological Distress, and Perceived Social Approval as Predictors of Tobacco Smoking Dependency among Young Adults in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined impulsivity, sensation seeking, adverse childhood experiences, psychological distress, and perceived social approval as predictors of tobacco smoking dependency among young adults in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. A sample of 126 young adults was selected using multistage sampling technique, which involved purposive, snowball, and simple random sampling methods. Standardised instruments including the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11), Sensation Seeking Scale (SSS-V), Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Questionnaire, Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10), perceived social approval scale, and Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) were used for data collection. Data were analysed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation and Multiple Regression Analysis at 0.05 level of significance. The results revealed that impulsivity (r = 0.64), sensation seeking (r = 0.59), adverse childhood experiences (r = 0.46), psychological distress (r = 0.72), and perceived social approval (r = 0.75) had significant positive relationships with tobacco smoking dependency among young adults. The variables jointly accounted for 71% of the variance in tobacco smoking dependency (R² = 0.71), indicating a strong combined predictive influence. Perceived social approval (β = 0.39) emerged as the most significant independent predictor, followed by psychological distress (β = 0.33), impulsivity (β = 0.26), sensation seeking (β = 0.21), and adverse childhood experiences (β = 0.17). The study concluded that tobacco smoking dependency is influenced by a combination of psychological traits, developmental experiences, and social environmental factors. It was recommended that interventions targeting emotional regulation, peer influence, and early-life adversity should be strengthened to reduce smoking dependency among young adults in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria.