Stress and Unaided Smoking Cessation: A Prospective Investigation

A prospective design was used to determine the outcomes associated with unaided smoking cessation and the influence of stress on cessation. Heavy smokers ( N = 308) completed stress-related measures and were then recontacted at 1, 6, and 12 months. At each follow-up, they indicated their smoking sta...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of consulting and clinical psychology 1993-10, Vol.61 (5), p.831-838
Main Authors: Carey, Michael P, Kalra, Deborah L, Carey, Kate B, Halperin, Silas, Richards, C. Steven
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
Biological and medical sciences
Cessation
Desintoxication. Drug withdrawal
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Followup Studies
Human
Humans
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Prospective Studies
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopathology. Psychiatry
Role
Self Care - psychology
Smoking
Smoking Cessation
Smoking Cessation - psychology
Social research
Stress
Stress, Psychological - complications
Treatment Outcome
Treatments
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Summary:A prospective design was used to determine the outcomes associated with unaided smoking cessation and the influence of stress on cessation. Heavy smokers ( N = 308) completed stress-related measures and were then recontacted at 1, 6, and 12 months. At each follow-up, they indicated their smoking status (which was confirmed by collateral report and biochemical tests) and completed several stress-related questionnaires. Results indicated that 33% of subjects smoked continuously throughout the year, 39% quit briefly but subsequently relapsed, and 15% quit (confirmed biochemically). An additional 7% reported that they had quit, but this could not be confirmed, and 6% were lost to follow-up. Compared with nonquitters, quitters reported less perceived stress, greater self-efficacy, greater use of problem solving and cognitive restructuring, and less reliance on wishful thinking, self-criticism, and social withdrawal. A model to forecast quitting was built and cross-validated.
ISSN:0022-006X
1939-2117
DOI:10.1037/0022-006X.61.5.831