Aggression Caused by Anxiety in Smokers and Non Smokers

Abstract

Abnormally high or low anxiety levels are examples of general emotional regulation disturbances that are prone to contributing to excessive aggression and violence. This shows that the neurochemical mechanisms and brain circuits controlling anxiety and aggression may overlap. While numerous studies have linked smoking cigarettes to an increase in anxiety symptoms or disorders, early exposures may predispose a person to having stronger anxiety reactions in the future. This study hypothesizes that smokers will exhibit higher levels of aggression compared to non-smokers (Hypothesis 1). Additionally, it is predicted that smokers will experience higher levels of anxiety relative to non-smokers (Hypothesis 2). Furthermore, it is anticipated that a significant positive correlation will be observed between aggression and anxiety in both smokers and non-smokers (Hypothesis 3). These hypotheses are formulated based on existing literature suggesting a potential link between smoking, anxiety, and aggression, and aim to investigate the relationship between these variables in both smoking and non-smoking populations. The results of the study indicate significant differences in anxiety levels between smokers and non-smokers, with smokers exhibiting higher levels of anxiety. Additionally, there was no significant difference in the levels of aggression between smokers and non-smokers. However, the correlation analysis revealed significant and positive associations between aggression and anxiety in both groups, supporting the initial hypotheses and suggesting a link between anxiety and aggression irrespective of smoking status.