Women are more emotionally dependent on cigarettes than men, according to a report. The research, which analyses the differences between the sexes on smoking, reveals that 48% of women smokers feel unable to cope without a cigarette.
This compares to just 35% of men.
In addition, 48% of women who smoke do so to give them confidence in social situations and 44% of female smokers regard smoking as their main source of pleasure. The majority of women smokers (61%) say they would find it difficult to go a whole day without a cigarette.
In contrast, men seem to express views on their smoking in more physical and personal terms.
More male (47%) than female smokers (39%) want to stop smoking to improve their health and twice as many men as women want to stop to improve their own fitness.
Men smoke higher-tar brands and more cigarettes per day.
Stress is often cited as an important barrier to stopping smoking, particularly among women.
For men, alcohol plays a large part, with three times as many men as women saying they relapsed while drinking alcohol. "Family pressures and worries about stress and weight gain are at the forefront of women's minds.
"Men seem more self-motivated, quitting for their health and more personal reaons, and making quit attempts on their own." The report also identified that women are more likely to want to quit for the sake of their family and children, or because of pregnancy.
For many women smokers (42%) the main source of pressure to quit comes from their children, whereas for men, pressure is most likely to be exerted by their partner.