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Who Enrolls in a Quit Smoking Program with Yoga Therapy?
Beth C Bock1, Herpreet Thind2, Shira Dunsiger3
1Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI;,
American Journal of Health Behavior
|October 14, 2017
Summary
Yoga may help with smoking cessation by addressing stress and weight concerns. This study found differences in smoking behaviors and motivations between men and women, suggesting tailored approaches may be needed for effective quitting.
Area of Science:
- Integrative medicine
- Behavioral science
- Public health
Background:
- Smoking cessation is a major public health goal.
- Stress, affect, and weight control are common barriers to quitting.
- Individual characteristics like sex and age may influence these barriers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine smoking-related characteristics of individuals in a yoga for smoking cessation trial.
- To understand how these characteristics vary by sex and age.
- To inform the adaptation of yoga interventions for diverse populations.
Main Methods:
- Recruitment of 227 participants for an 8-week randomized controlled trial.
- Yoga offered as a complementary treatment to standard smoking cessation.
- Collection of smoking-relevant characteristics from enrolled individuals.
Main Results:
- The sample was 55% female, 86% non-Hispanic white, with a mean age of 46.
- Males smoked more cigarettes daily and had lower quit motivation than females.
- Females smoked for weight control, social, and mood reasons, expecting more from yoga.
Conclusions:
- Both males and females showed interest in yoga for smoking cessation.
- Significant sex and age-related differences in smoking variables were observed.
- Intervention adaptation may be necessary to address sub-population needs for smoking cessation.