Sex and gender differences in nicotine

use and abuse, and the role of sex hormones in these differences.
The use and abuse of nicotine may be influences through a variety of factors depending
on whether an individual is a male or female. An individuals gender may determine the social
influences of nicotine use. Gender is defined socially constructed roles, behaviours, activities,
and attributes that a given society considers appropriate for men and women. For example,
throughout history males have been characterized as more dominant, aggressive, and impulsive
compared to females. In contrast, females are perceived to be nurturing, emotional, and
submissive (Carlson, 2010). These gender differences may affect an individuals use and abuse of
nicotine. Gender influences may include an individuals perceived image, social environment,
social constructs, social economic status, and personality Social factors play a role on whether or
not an individual uses nicotine, and these social factors may affect an individual differently
depending on the gender they associate themselves with. On the other hand, sex is the biological
and physiological characteristics that define men and women. The different characteristics that
define sex may also have an effect on whether an individual uses or abuses nicotine. Men and
women are influenced differently based on the hormones they produced. These hormones play a
role on their emotions and also influencing the decisions they make. The purpose of this paper is
to outline the sex and gender differences in nicotine use and abuse as well as the sex hormones
which play a role in these differences.
Westling, Andrews, and Peterson (2012), postulated a correlation between pubertal timing
and substance use, which they called the Early Maturation Hypothesis. This hypothesis suggests
that children who experience an early maturation are at an increased risk for psychosocial
maladaptation because their regular course of development has been interrupted. This is because
they appear more physically mature than their same-age peers they may be expected to
demonstrate social and cognitive competence beyond their years, when in fact they may
demonstrate lower competence because of an interruption in the normal course of their
development (Wesling et al., 2012). The varying stages of pubertal development can affect the
way adolescents mature socially. A key factor which determines how adolescents may become
more vulnerable to peer pressure and other social stressors is their social competence. In
Westling et al (2012) study, they found that girls who matured earlier than their peers were more
likely to perceive smoking to be cool and were also more likely to begin smoking earlier than
males. Girls appear to value their relationships with friends which greatly increased the
susceptibility to peer pressures.