Smoking cessation in college-aged women: A qualitative analysis of factors important to this population

Abstract

Tobacco use continues to be the leading, preventable cause of mortality among US adults. Research frequently cites weight maintenance and body image as influential in women's reasons for smoking.Objective: This present study sought information for informing effective smoking cessation interventions through the examination of young women's views on smoking.Participants: Forty-three 18–21-year-old women were recruited from November 2006 to April 2007.Methods: Participants signed up for focus groups and completed questionnaires assessing body image, weight concerns, smoking behavior, and physical activity.Results: Qualitative data revealed that reasons for smoking included psychosocial factors, body image and weight concerns, stress management, appetite suppression, procrastination, addiction, and relationship with drinking. Suggestions for successful cessation interventions included exercise components, group-based meetings, healthy, and affordable eating tips, reminders of drawbacks to smoking, and use of technology.Conclusions: Learning directly from college-aged women, their reasons for smoking and their suggestions for intervention offers recruitment and intervention strategies tailored to this population.