Thinking and/or doing as strategies for resisting smoking
Kathleen A O'Connell1, Vanessa L Hosein, Joseph E Schwartz
1Teachers College Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA.
Research in Nursing & Health
|November 30, 2006
Summary
Using cognitive and behavioral strategies significantly reduces relapse risk during smoking cessation. Combining strategies, especially cognitive ones, offers the greatest protection against lapsing.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Psychology
- Addiction Research
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Smoking cessation is challenging, with high relapse rates.
- Temptation episodes are critical moments for potential relapse.
- Coping strategies are vital for maintaining abstinence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the effectiveness of behavioral and cognitive strategies in preventing smoking relapse.
- To compare the impact of using strategies individually versus in combination.
- To identify optimal strategy combinations for smoking cessation.
Main Methods:
- Random effects regression analyses were used.
- Data comprised 1,499 temptation reports from 61 smokers.
- Analysis focused on the first two weeks of smoking cessation.
Main Results:
- Both behavioral and cognitive strategies, alone or combined, significantly protected against lapsing.
- Combined strategies were superior to single behavioral or cognitive strategies.
- Multiple cognitive strategies were as effective as combined strategies.
Conclusions:
- Coping with temptation is key to resisting smoking.
- Employing multiple strategies, particularly cognitive ones, maximizes the benefit for smoking cessation.
- A combination of cognitive and behavioral strategies offers robust protection against relapse.
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