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Self-help approaches to smoking cessation: a report from the normative aging study
A J Garvey1, J W Heinold, B Rosner
1Veterans Administration Outpatient Clinic, Boston, Massachusetts 02108.
Addictive Behaviors
|January 1, 1989
Summary
Most ex-smokers quit without help. Successful self-quitters often substitute other products, increase food intake, or experience no urges in former smoking settings.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Science
- Addiction Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Self-quitters represent the majority of successful ex-smokers.
- Limited research exists on the characteristics of this population.
- Understanding self-quitters can inform smoking cessation strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare male self-quitters and recidivists based on smoking history, psychosocial factors, and cessation methods.
- To identify factors associated with successful self-quit attempts.
Main Methods:
- Comparative study of male self-quitters (N=191) and age-matched recidivists (N=110).
- Assessment of smoking histories, psychosocial attributes, and quitting strategies.
- Analysis of factors influencing successful cessation and relapse.
Main Results:
- Substituting cigars/pipes for cigarettes increased success by nearly fourfold.
- Increased food/snack consumption post-cessation was associated with 80% higher success rates.
- Absence of urges in former smoking settings strongly predicted successful quitting.
- Recidivists were more likely to use physical activity for coping and were older at quit attempt.
- Relapse reasons included withdrawal, psychosocial stress, and social exposure to smoking.
Conclusions:
- Specific behavioral substitutions and coping mechanisms are linked to successful self-initiated smoking cessation.
- Understanding these factors can guide interventions for individuals attempting to quit smoking independently.
- Further research into the psychosocial dynamics of self-quitters is warranted.