Social Avoidance and Distress Among Smokers: Optimism and Mental Well-Being as the Predictors

Although social avoidance is associated with higher prevalence of smoking and poor mental health, little is known about the underlying mechanisms of these relationships. The present study was designed to investigate whether social avoidance and distress could be predicted by optimism and mental well-being among smokers and non-smokers in Bangladesh. The research employed a cross-sectional survey design. A questionnaire package was administered to a convenience sample of 300 (50% smokers and 50% non-smokers, mean age = 23.01 years) male students of the Gopalganj Science and Technology University, Gopalganj, Bangladesh. The findings of the t-test were revealed significant differences between smokers and non-smokers in all the three major variables under the study. Correlation analysis revealed significant associations between optimism, mental well-being, and social avoidance. When the contributions of optimism and mental well-being to social avoidance and distress were assessed, both variables were conducive to be good predictors of social avoidance and distress. In the fullness of time, these findings would help researchers and practitioners have better understandings of the effect of positive psychology on social avoidance and distress among smokers and non-smokers in Bangladesh.