Associations between the stages of change and the pros and cons of smoking in a longitudinal study of Swiss smokers.
To develop effective smoking prevention interventions, we need to identify modifiable variables, such as the "pros and cons" of smoking, that predict self-initiated smoking cessation. Our objective was to assess associations between the pros and cons of smoking and the stages of change, both cross-sectionally and longitudinally, in a cohort of smokers. In cross-sectional comparisons, the pros of smoking were 0.19-0.31 standard deviation (SD) higher and the cons 0.79-0.87 SD lower in the precontemplation than in the preparation stage. In follow-up data, progressing from precontemplation to contemplation and from contemplation to preparation was associated with substantial and significant increases in the cons (+0.71 SD and +0.50 SD, respectively). No longitudinal associations were found between changes in pros of smoking and progress through stages. Thus this study added evidence from longitudinal data to published evidence from cross-sectional data about the association between the cons of smoking and the stages of change. Intervention studies are necessary to establish whether this association is causal.
Etter
J F
JF
Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Geneva, Switzerland. etter@cmu.unige.ch
Perneger
T V
TV
D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012907:Smoking / Q000639:trends*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000523:psychology*; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013557:Switzerland