Sociodemographic and smoking-related psychosocial predictors of smoking behavior change among high school smokers

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to explore whether sociodemographic characteristics and baseline psychosocial factors were related to short-term smoking cessation and reduction, after controlling for the effects of participating in a virtual world, Internet chat room intervention. Results indicate that smoking-related psychosocial factors are important predictors of adolescent smoking cessation and reduction, independent of the effects of participating in the intervention. Self-efficacy for quitting, social support, and perceived benefits of quitting was related to positive short-term changes in smoking behavior.