[Relationship between age and smoking abstinence self-efficacy]
Summary
Smoking abstinence self-efficacy (SASE) in middle-aged individuals is lower than in younger or older adults, showing a U-shaped curve peaking at age 60.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Science
- Public Health
- Gerontology
Background:
- Smoking cessation is a major public health goal.
- Self-efficacy is a key predictor of smoking abstinence.
- Understanding age-related differences in self-efficacy is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between smoking abstinence self-efficacy (SASE) and age.
- To identify age-specific patterns in an individual's confidence to remain abstinent from smoking.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional questionnaire survey using face-to-face interviews.
- Smoking Abstinence Self-Efficacy Scale (SASE) was utilized for assessment.
- Univariate two-degree fractional polynomials (FPs) regression analyzed SASE and age, controlling for marital status, occupation, and education.
Main Results:
- A significant U-shaped relationship was observed between SASE and age.
- The lowest level of SASE was found at approximately 60 years of age.
- SASE levels differed across age groups, with middle-aged individuals reporting lower confidence.
Conclusions:
- Smoking abstinence self-efficacy is not uniformly distributed across the lifespan.
- Middle-aged adults exhibit lower SASE compared to younger and older populations.
- These findings highlight the need for age-tailored smoking cessation support.
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