ANALYSIS OF SMOKING BEHAVIORS IN AFLOAT COMMANDS

The U.S. Navy offers a unique opportunity to explore the social role of smoking in the military, as it is used as a stress-relief tool in a high-pressure work environment. Navy ships are socially isolated, and smoking breaks serve as one of the few reprieves away from daily work. Through these observations, the aim of this research is to answer these questions: 1) Are there any peer effects affecting the propensity to smoke among specific job types in the Navy? 2) Are there variations in smoking rates across the different ship types? I compiled a de-identified individual-level database tracking active-duty sailors and their smoking-related diagnoses from 2002 to 2011. One key finding is that sailors on larger ships, such as carriers, have lower rates of being diagnosed with smoking disorders. In addition, I found peer effects in most rating groups, whereby sailors joining a command where many of their peers were recently diagnosed with a smoking-related illness have a higher likelihood of contracting a smoking-related illness in the future. The results of my research can advise future policies to reduce smoking rates among sailors by leveraging the nuanced cultural aspect of smoking in the Navy.Lieutenant Junior Grade, United States NavyApproved for public release. distribution is unlimite