Breakups, divorce, and separation can happen for a number of reasons.
However, researchers over the years have looked into one possible factor that may impact our relationships with our partners and spouses more than we think.
Namely, studies have established links between cigarette smoking and divorce and how being a smoker affected the long-term viability of the relationship.
A cheeky look at the decreasing divorce rate in Maine may surprise you. The rate of decline in divorce is almost similar in pace and frequency to the dip in the cigarette smoking rate for US adults.
The data for this is based on CDC data collected between 2001 and 2021, and even if you think the correlation is wildly coincidental or a reach, other studies and research over the years have looked at similar subjects.
For example, a University of Minnesota study found that adults who smoked cigarettes are 53% more likely to have experienced divorce than those who do not smoke. Additional research indicates that psychological and family-of-origin factors associated with one’s smoking habits may contribute to an individual’s likelihood of facing marital instability.
Meanwhile, an Australian study suggests that conflict may stem from the fact that one spouse is not a smoker or used to be one, and the other spouse still smokes.
Either way, the study results indicate that smoking by one or both spouses is associated with a higher probability of marital instability and breakdown.
In this post, we’ll take a closer look at how breakups, divorce, or separation impact one’s smoking habits, as well as how smoking habits may lead to divorce or conflict in a relationship.
Lastly, we’ll also share crucial smoking cessation tips to help current and former smokers on their quitting journey:
How do breakups and divorce impact smoking habits?
To better understand the link between breakups, divorces, and smoking, it’s important to acknowledge the common reasons that people smoke in the first place.
For example, many smokers have a hard time quitting because they view cigarettes or tobacco as stress relievers and a short break away from potentially stressful situations like work or house chores.
Undeniably, breakups, divorces, and separation can be significant stressors in an individual’s life. A Social Science & Medicine study notes that relationship dissolution is considered one of the greatest interpersonal stressors in people’s lives.
Accompanied by changes in finances, housing, and social relationships, divorce has been associated with symptoms of profound sadness, loneliness, grief, anger, and insecurity, all of which may lead to cravings for smoking.
After divorce, people tend to engage in more risky behaviors and unhealthy lifestyle habits, such as consuming more alcohol, tobacco, and other substances.
Meanwhile, previous studies have found that divorced people tend to have a higher incidence of health problems like hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.
This may be due to the negative effects of divorce on one’s financial and social resources, resulting in reduced access to healthy lifestyle activities like sports facilities, nutritious food, and healthcare.
Does smoking lead to divorce and separation?
While we’ve mainly focused on how divorce and separation can exacerbate or lead to worsened smoking habits, other studies have also focused on how smoking habits and tobacco consumption can lead to conflicts in relationships and, subsequently, relationship dissolution, like breakup, divorce, or separation.
This has more to do with the often overlooked side effects of regular cigarette smoking on relationships. Aside from the health effects, for example, many smokers also suffer from the financial strain that smoking causes.
According to data from the CDC, cigarette smoking cost the United States more than an estimated $600 billion in 2018. Of this amount, more than $240 billion went to healthcare spending, while nearly $185 billion was attributed to lost productivity from smoking-related illnesses and health conditions.
Meanwhile, the CDC proposes that increasing the price of cigarettes can effectively reduce cigarette sales per person by an average of 7%.
This means that smokers are spending more money on cigarettes as time passes, which can add to the financial strain in a relationship and may cause conflict between partners or spouses.
Aside from finances, a Preventive Medicine study suggests that couples who smoke together tend to stay together.
Consequently, this means that partners and spouses who may struggle with quitting may pose a health risk for their partner, who may be a non-smoker or a former smoker, leading to necessary separation due to a mismatch in lifestyle and daily habits.
Still, it’s not all bleak. The study found that couples are highly concordant in health-related behaviors. For example, spouses whose partner had quit smoking tended to quit themselves.
Regardless of gender, individuals were more likely to adopt positive health behavior changes if their spouse had previously made these changes.
Tips for smoking cessation
On the topic of positive health changes, it’s about time we talk about smoking cessation. Of course, quitting smoking may not be the solution to saving a failing relationship or marriage.
Still, the health benefits you’ll reap from quitting the habit can help you recover from a breakup or divorce without resorting to toxic lifestyle changes.
Quitting is easier said than done, but the past few years have seen an increase in nicotine products that may be viable alternatives to conventional cessation methods.
These products are also popular for smokers and former smokers trying to ease into cessation instead of quitting cold turkey.
Top nicotine product brands, like Philip Morris International’s ZYN, have also introduced initiatives and programs that can potentially motivate users throughout the cessation process.
Users can opt into the ZYN rewards program through the ZYN rewards store and earn and collect points whenever they purchase the brand’s nicotine pouches, regardless of the retailer.
These points can then be used to gain access to various prizes, from low-value gift cards to high-ticket items like Bose headphones, iPads, and air fryers.
To get these points, users simply have to scan the QR code at the bottom of each ZYN nicotine pouch can, with a maximum of 60 can scans monthly.
Other nicotine product brands trying to reward users for shifting from traditional cigarettes to smoke-free products include Lucy gum.
This gum appeals to users to help prevent or manage nicotine cravings, manage stress, and maintain focus. Instead of a loyalty-based rewards program, Lucy offers a Subscribe & Save purchasing option when users buy the brand’s gum from its website.
This option offers 15% off the purchase, a monthly subscription for more savings, and other special offers for users.Finally, quitting smoking is only one part of the puzzle.
Breakups, divorce, and separation can be overwhelming for the average person — whether smoker or not — so taking care of your physical, mental, and emotional health is essential.
You can check out our post on “How to Take Care of Your Health During a Divorce” for more specific tips, including engaging in regular physical activity, maintaining a nutritious diet, and keeping a solid support network, all of which are also measures that can help supplement your smoking cessation journey.