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Who quits smoking in a behavioral treatment program?
Addictive Behaviors
|January 1, 1984
Summary
Lower nicotine intake and finding satisfaction in the act of smoking, not just nicotine, predict successful smoking cessation. Tailoring programs to these factors may improve outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral psychology
- Addiction research
- Public health
Background:
- Smoking cessation programs aim to help individuals quit tobacco use.
- Understanding predictors of abstinence is crucial for program improvement.
- Behavioral interventions are a common approach to smoking cessation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify variables predicting posttreatment smoking abstinence.
- To explore factors influencing long-term (6-month) abstinence.
- To assess the impact of pretreatment characteristics on cessation success.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from a smoking cessation program.
- Identification of predictors for immediate and 6-month posttreatment abstinence.
- Comparison of factors influencing abstinence versus non-abstinence.
Main Results:
- Lower pretreatment nicotine and total particulate matter (TPM) intake predicted abstinence.
- Higher scores on the 'handling' scale and lower scores on the 'craving' scale were associated with abstinence.
- Program duration and quitting motivations (other than addiction) also predicted abstinence.
- Adherence to behavioral rules did not predict abstinence.
- Smokers finding manipulation of smoking rewarding were more likely to achieve temporary abstinence.
Conclusions:
- Pretreatment nicotine intake and smoking-related reward mechanisms are key predictors of cessation success.
- Behavioral self-control programs can reduce smoking but result in few sustained quitters.
- Tailoring smoking cessation programs to individual characteristics, such as reward preferences, may enhance effectiveness.