Women's Smoking History Prior to Entering the US Navy: A Prospective Predictor of Performance
Abstract
The objective of this study is to examine whether women's tobacco use prior to entering the U.S. Navy is predictive of subsequent career performance. A priori predictions were that smoking at entry into the Navy would be related to early attrition, poorer job performance, more disciplinary problems, and lower likelihood of reenlistment. A prospective cohort analysis of 5,487 women entering the U.S. Navy between March 1996 and March 1997 was conducted. Navy attrition/retention and career performance measures, such as time in service, early attrition, type of discharge, misconduct, number of promotions, demotions and unauthorized absences, highest pay grade achieved, and re-enlistment were examined. Results showed that, compared with never smokers, daily smokers at entry into the U.S. Navy had subsequent career outcomes consistently indicating poorer job performance (e.g., early attrition prior to serving a full-term enlistment, more likely to have a less-than-honorable discharge, more demotions and desertions, lower achieved pay grade, and less likely to re-enlist). Other types of smokers consistently fell between never and daily smokers on career outcome measures. The authors conclude that, for women entering the U.S. Navy, being a daily smoker is a prospective predictor of poorer performance in the Navy. Future research should evaluate the effectiveness of cessation intervention with smoker-enlistees prior to their entering the Navy to assess the impact on subsequent career outcomes.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2007
- Accession Number
- ADA519628
Entities
People
- Linda K. Hervig
- Susan I. Woodruff
- Terry L. Conway
Organizations
- Naval Health Research Center