Abstract
Previous research indicates that use of cognitive coping strategies in high risk situations is positively correlated with smoking cessation maintenance. Basic research on self-control of unwanted thoughts, however, suggests that mental coping efforts involving thought suppression should be ineffective. We evaluated this possibility by rescoring the articulated thoughts transcripts of 95 subjects from a one-year prospective study of smoking relapse (Haaga, 1989). Frequent use of cognitive coping tactics for reframing high risk situations (e.g. reminding oneself of negative consequences of smoking) predicted greater likelihood of continuous abstinence in the following three months (49 per cent success for those above the sample median, 20 per cent for those below the median). This effect was marginally significant at a 12-month follow-up. By contrast, thought suppression showed no association with maintenance of non-smoking. Discussion focused on complications in applying laboratory research on thought suppression and on reanalysis of cognitive assessment protocols.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
