Subject characteristics as predictors of self-change in smoking

Nancy S Wilcox,Carlo C Diclemente,James O Prochaska,Wayne F Velicer

doi:10.1016/0306-4603(85)90037-1

Abstract

Subject characteristics served as predictors of smokers' success or failure in their self-change efforts at smoking cessation over a 6-month period. Seven hundred and three adult subjects represented five stages of change based on the transtheoretical model: precontemplation, contemplation, action, maintenance, and relapse. Step-wise multiple discriminant functions were used to predict movement across the stages. Health problems, problem duration, daily cigarettes, previous attempts to quit, and smoking for pleasure predicted movement through various stages of change. The stronger the smoking habit, the less apt the smoker is to quit or maintain a nonsmoking status. Smokers with higher incomes and more years of education are more likely than persons of lower socioeconomic levels to be successful in their self- change efforts. The advantages of process-oriented rather than static variables for predicting self-change are discussed.

Highlights

Four categories of subject characteristics that included demographic, smoking history, health history and life experiences variables were investigated as predictors of smokers' success or failure in their self change efforts at smoking cessation over a 6 month period
Demographic findings suggested that smokers with higher incomes and more years of education are more likely than persons of lower socioeconomic levels to be successful in their self change efforts
(1982) assessed the degree to which positive and negative life changes in the six months prior to participation in a smoking clinic were related to initial smoking cessation and maintenance at a four month follow-up

Summary

Introduction

Four categories of subject characteristics that included demographic, smoking history, health history and life experiences variables were investigated as predictors of smokers' success or failure in their self change efforts at smoking cessation over a 6 month period. Subject Characteristics as Predictors of Self Change in Smoking Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/theses Recommended Citation Wilcox, Nancy S., "Subject Characteristics as Predictors of Self Change in Smoking" (1984).

Results

Conclusion