COGNITIVE DISSONANCE AND RISK PERCEPTION IN MEXICAN FEMALE SMOKERS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL ANALYSIS

Cognitive dissonance may play a significant role in how individuals rationalize harmful behaviors such as smoking, particularly among women who face unique sociocultural and emotional barriers to cessation. This study aimed to examine the relationship between cognitive dissonance and risk perception in Mexican adult female smokers, while identifying psychological profiles and key predictors that influence awareness of smoking-related risks. A cross-sectional, quantitative approach was applied to a purposive sample of 203 women between the ages of 14 and 56 who self-identified as active smokers. Data were collected using a validated Risk Perception Scale and a Cognitive Dissonance in Smoking Scale developed for this research. Descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation, ANOVA, multiple linear regression, and k-means cluster analysis were conducted using SPSS version 25.