Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2016

Identifier

DOI: 10.3109/16066359.2016.1170815; PMCID: PMC5098812

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Research examining relationships between social support and smoking cessation has paid little attention to non-treatment seeking smokers and not considered the role of autonomy support for fostering quitting motivation. This study examined if autonomy support received from family and friends was associated with quitting motivation and making a quit attempt among diverse smokers with varying levels of quitting motivation. Demographic characteristics associated with autonomy support were explored.

METHODS: Participants (N=312) responded to advertisements seeking smokers "not quite ready to quit," and were primarily Black, low-income, and unemployed. Most (255) enrolled in a clinical trial of smoking cessation induction strategies (treatment sample). An additional 57 not meeting the trial eligibility criteria of low quitting motivation enrolled for baseline assessments only. Participants completed baseline measures of autonomy support received from friends and autonomous quitting motivation. In the treatment sample, quit attempts were assessed at 6-months follow-up.

RESULTS: Females reported higher levels than males of autonomy support from friends (p=0.003). Participants with a high school diploma/GED reported higher levels of support from family (p

CONCLUSIONS: Support from family and friends may promote autonomous reasons to quit among diverse smokers. Research is needed to assess the role of social support in the pre-quitting phases among racial and socio-economically diverse populations.

Journal Title

Addict Res Theory

Volume

24

Issue

6

First Page

477

Last Page

482

MeSH Keywords

Smoking Cessation; Cigarette Smoking; Psychosocial Support Systems

Keywords

Stop smoking; Cigarette smoking

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