Smoking cessation and quality of life: changes in life satisfaction over 3 years following a quit attempt
Megan E Piper1, Susan Kenford, Michael C Fiore
1Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, 53593, USA. mep@ctri.medicine.wisc.edu
Background:
There has been limited research addressing changes in subjective well-being as a result of quitting smoking.
Purpose:
The purpose of this study was to use longitudinal data to determine the relation between smoking cessation and subjective measures of well-being, including global quality of life (QOL), health-related QOL (HR-QOL), affect, relationship satisfaction, and stressor occurrence.
Methods:
As part of a randomized, placebo-controlled smoking cessation trial, 1,504 participants (58.2% women, 83.9% white) completed assessments and had their smoking status biochemically confirmed at baseline and years 1 and 3 post-quit.
Results:
Compared with continuing smokers, quitters showed improved global QOL, HR-QOL, and affect at years 1 and 3 and fewer stressors by year 3. Smoking status did not influence marital relationship satisfaction.
Conclusions:
Successful quitters, in contrast to continuing smokers, reported improved subjective well-being, which could be used to motivate quit attempts by individuals with concerns about what life will be like without cigarettes.
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