Why do effective smoking prevention programs work? Student changes in social cognitive theory constructs

Psychosocial smoking prevention programs can decrease adolescent smoking initiation. This study determined if the theoretical variables targeted in a psychosocial smoking prevention program can be improved significantly by participation in a smoking prevention program. The Social Cognitive Theory constructs examined included behavioral capability to resist positive images of smoking, refusal skill-efficacy, total positive refusal expectations and importance, and total negative refusal expectations and importance. The smoking prevention program had a significant impact on student refusal skill-efficacy and total positive refusal expectations and importance. However, the program did not affect behavioral capability to resist positive images of smoking and total negative refusal expectations and importance. Results from the study can be used to improve the impact of psychosocial prevention programs on targeted Social Cognitive Theory constructs and support the continued practice of cigarette refusal strategy role-plays, addressing various types of pressure and emphasizing positive outcomes from cigarette refusals.