Partner interaction and smoking cessation: A pilot study

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Abstract

This was an exploratory study of precessation interaction between 21 smokers and their partners enrolled in a partner support smoking treatment program. The aim was to identify the partner interactions and proposed quitting strategies that were associated with cessation. Significant results (p < .05) and trends (p < .10) were reported. Both smoker and partner interactions predicted cessation. Failure to quit was predicted by smokers' negative behavior (prosmoking statements, interrupting the partner, and criticism/rejection of help) and by partners' suggestion to disengage from the quitting process. Partner's suggestion to disengage may be a reaction to the smokers' negative behavior because it was positively correlated with it. Successful quitters and their partners proposed more self-help strategies than did nonquitters and their partners. Nonquitters proposed more cooperative strategies than did successful quitters. Thus, suggesting strategies that encourage autonomy and self-mastery, rather than dependence on another person, may lead to more positive outcomes.

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      The partner's mere smoking status is a strong predictor of cessation: smokers are more likely to quit smoking if partnered with a non-smoker than a smoker (Homish & Leonard, 2005; Jackson, Steptoe, & Wardle, 2015) and smokers who quit are more likely to relapse if partnered with a smoker than a non-smoker (Homish & Leonard, 2005; Pollak & Mullen, 1997). The influence of a partner's smoking status on successful quitting may be due, at least in part, to the partner's support for and against quitting smoking (Ginsberg, Hall, & Rosinski, 1991; Lüscher, Stadler, & Scholz, 2017; Scholz et al., 2016). However, the perceived responsiveness of the partner (i.e., the perception that the partner understands, approves of, and supports the self; Reis & Clark, 2013; Reis & Shaver, 1988) may have greater predictive utility than the partner's support for quitting, given that perceived availability of support is often a better predictor of health outcomes than received support (Lakey & Cassady, 1990; Stroebe & Stroebe, 1996).

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    This research was funded by grants from the American Cancer Society (PBR-5A), Biomedical Research Support Grant Program, Division of Research Resources, National Institutes of Health (SO7-RR05755), and Research Scientist Development Award (5-KO2-DA00065).

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