Smoking as a moderator of the relationship between affective state and absence from work.

This article examines the role of smoking as a moderator of the relationship between affective state and absenteeism The subjects were female student nurses (N = 192) at two hospitals. Prior to exposure to the work situation, levels of affective distress did not differ significantly between groups differing m smoking behavior (nonsmokers, relaxation smokers, and stress smokers). Multiple regression analysis showed overall significant differences in absence frequency between hospitals and between smokers and nonsmokers There was also a significant interaction between smoking behavior and affective state, only among the stress smokers did initial level of affective distress predict frequency of absence Thus, this study (carried out in a setting that did not permit smoking during working hours) showed that withdrawal from work in direct relation to affective symptom levels occurred only among those who habitually smoked in response to stress Several formal reports (most recently, Royal College of Physicians, 1977; U.S. Public Health Service, 1979) have documented the health hazards associated with smoking. These include the fact that time lost from work through sickness, both m total days and number of