Smoking and the Ø pattern; predictors of transitions through the stages of change.
Pre-contemplators, contemplators and preparers have previously been described by distinct scores on pros, social influence and self-efficacy, the Ø pattern. The objective of this study was to replicate this pattern in a sample of adult smokers (n = 554), to longitudinally observe stage sequence and identify predictors for forward and backward stage transition. Three hypotheses were formulated: (i) forward transition from pre-contemplation will be predicted by a higher perception of pros concerning smoking cessation, (ii) backward transition from contemplation will be predicted by a lower perception of pros of quitting smoking and (iii) forward transition from preparation will be predicted by a higher self-efficacy perception concerning smoking cessation. The Ø pattern was replicated successfully. Smokers appeared to be more likely to transition to an adjacent stage than to skip a stage in the sequence. For prediction of stage transition, separate analyses were conducted for pre-contemplators, contemplators and preparers. Respondents transitioning forward were compared with respondents remaining in the same stage or transitioning backward and vice versa. Hypothesis (i) and (iii) were confirmed. Additionally, self-efficacy predicted forward transition from pre-contemplation. Implications towards improving interventions and research concerning stage transition are discussed.
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Department of Health Promotion.ealth Education, University of Maastricht, PO Box 616, 6200 MD, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
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D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000523:psychology*