Smoking and snus use among Norwegian students: Demographic, personality and substance use characteristics

Background and aim: Smoking rates are decreasing in Norway while the use of snus has increased. We aimed to investigate the co-occurrence of, and the socio-demographics, personality and substance use characteristics associated with, student smoking and snus use. Methods: Survey data were collected among students in higher education in Bergen, Norway in 2015 (N = 11,236, response rate 39.4%). Multinomial regression analyses comparing snus users and smokers to non-users and non-smokers, respectively, on demographic, personality and substance use variables were conducted. Regression analyses comparing current dual users to current smokers and current snus users and comparing daily smokers to daily snus users, on demographic, personality and substance use variables were also conducted. Results: In total 67.9% of ever snus users identified themselves as non-smokers (past and current). Several demographic, personality and substance use characteristics associated with smoking and snus use were identified (all = p < .05), some of which were common for both (e.g., use of cannabis) and some which were exclusively associated with either smoking (e.g., neuroticism) or snus use (e.g., extroversion). Conclusion: The current study contributes with several novel findings regarding traits associated with smoking and snus use. Though limited by a cross-sectional design, the current findings may suggest that the group of students using snus consists of a combination of previous smokers, students who would have smoked if snus was not available and a new segment who may not have used nicotine if snus was not available.