College women: history of childhood abuse and its relationship to smoking.

Few studies have examined the influence of childhood abuse on smoking in women. The objective of the study was to determine if abuse in childhood is associated with increased risk for smoking in women. Two hundred ninety-six women completed an anonymous survey on childhood abuse and smoking. Results showed that abuse was a better predictor of smoking than status variables. Those experiencing two or more abuses before age 17 were three times more likely to be early smokers and seven times more likely to be current smokers. Findings highlight abuse in childhood as a stressor that increases a woman's risk for smoking.