Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #117816

Sharla M. Wells-Di Gregorio, PhD¹, Laura J. Peterson, BA², and Kristen Carl¹. (1) Department of Psychology, Denison University, 404D Knapp Hall, Granville, OH 43023, (740) 587-6368, wellss@denison.edu, (2) Stress and Immunity Cancer Projects, The Ohio State University, 167 Townshend Hall, 1885 Neil Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210

Higher levels of cessation self efficacy (CSE), or confidence in one's ability to quit smoking, is associated with both smoking cessation and relapse prevention. Smoking rate (cigs/day) and the number of previous quit attempts are related to lower levels of CSE among older smokers, but have not been examined among college students. Social factors beyond peer pressure, such as social facilitation expectations (e.g. feeling more at ease socially when smoking) may also be an important predictor of college student's CSE. This study evaluates the contribution of smoking rate, number of quit attempts, and social facilitation expectations to the prediction of CSE among college smokers. Seventy-two, predominantly Caucasian (81%) smokers participated in this study. Fifty-six percent of students had made at least one quit attempt. Stepwise multiple regression was used to predict CSE, entering smoking rate on the first step, followed by previous cessation attempts, and in the final step, social facilitation expectations. This model was significant, explaining 36% of the variance in CSE (F= 12.78, p < .001). Smoking more cigarettes per day (â = -.42, p < .001), a greater number of cessation attempts (â = -.20, p = .05), and greater expectations of social facilitation (â = -.24, p < .05) predicted lower CSE. Interventions strategies to facilitate social interactions during smoking abstinence and decrease the number of cigarettes smoked per day may increase cessation self efficacy among college students. Programs could also encourage students to understand that multiple cessation attempts are often made prior to achieving success.

Learning Objectives:

• Define cessation self-efficacy and state its importance to smoking cessation
• Identify behavioral factors associated with lower levels of cessation self-efficacy
• Explain the concept of social facilitation expectations and discuss how this relates to cessation self-efficacy

Keywords: Smoking Cessation, Self-Efficacy

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.