Public and private self-consciousness and smoking behavior in head and neck cancer patients.
Patients who continue to use tobacco following treatment for head and neck cancers are at a greater risk for cancer recurrence and earlier mortality. This study examined the unique effects of public and private self-consciousness and negative affect on smoking behavior in a sample of 40 patients with cancers of the head and neck. Measures of public and private self-consciousness and negative affect were administered and assessments of past and current smoking behavior were obtained. Only public self-consciousness was a significant predictor of continued smoking following oncologic treatment. Specifically, individuals with low levels of public self-consciousness were nearly 13 times more likely to continue smoking compared to those with relatively higher levels of public self-consciousness. This pattern is interpreted in the context of previous theorizing that suggests individuals high in public self-consciousness are more likely to discontinue habitual behavior that is perceived as socially undesirable or incorrect.
Raichle
K A
KA
University of Iowa, Iowa City 52242, USA.
Christensen
A J
AJ
Ehlers
S
S
Moran
P J
PJ
Karnell
L
L
Funk
G
G
D000339:Affect; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007484:Iowa; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012649:Self Concept; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology*; D012925:Social Conformity