Longitudinal effects of cigarette pictorial warning labels among young adults.

Abstract

Young adults are influenced by cigarette package marketing. Pictorial warning labels are a recommended intervention. Evidence demonstrates pictorial warnings impact negative emotion, risk perceptions, and motivation to quit smoking, but there is limited research on their effects over time. This study analyzes data from a randomized trial of young adult smokers (N = 229) exposed to a pictorial or text-only cigarette warning. We assessed changes in fear, anger, risk perceptions, and motivation to quit smoking after 4weeks using latent change score modeling and over 3months using latent growth modeling. Latent change results showed exposure was associated with increases in fear, anger, and motivation to quit after 4weeks. Latent growth showed exposure was associated with increases in motivation to quit smoking over 3months, but not other outcomes. Findings suggest pictorial warning labels produce an emotional response and increase motivation to quit among young adult smokers.