Work-place social capital and smoking cessation: the Finnish Public Sector Study.
OBJECTIVE
To examine whether high social capital at work is associated with an increased likelihood of smoking cessation in baseline smokers.


METHODS
Prospective cohort study.


METHODS
Finland.


METHODS
A total of 4853 employees who reported to be smokers in the baseline survey in 2000-2002 (response rate 68%) and responded to a follow-up survey on smoking status in 2004-2005 (response rate 77%).


METHODS
Work-place social capital was assessed using a validated and psychometrically tested eight-item measure. Control variables included sex, age, socio-economic position, marital status, place of work, heavy drinking, physical activity, body mass index and physician-diagnosed depression.


RESULTS
In multi-level logistic regression models adjusted for all the covariates, the odds for being a non-smoker at follow-up were 1.26 [95% confidence interval (CI)=1.03-1.55] times higher for baseline smokers who reported high individual-level social capital than for their counterparts with low social capital. In an analysis stratified by socio-economic position, a significant association between individual-level social capital and smoking cessation was observed in the high socio-economic group [odds ratio (OR) (95% CI)=1.63 (1.01-2.63)], but not in intermediate [(OR=1.10 (0.83-1.47)] or low socio-economic groups [(OR=1.28 (0.86-1.91)]. Work unit-level social capital was not associated with smoking cessation.


CONCLUSIONS
If the observed associations are causal, these findings suggest that high perceived social capital at work may facilitate smoking cessation among smokers in higher-status jobs.
Kouvonen
Anne
A
Institute of Work, Health and Organizations, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK. anne.kouvonen@nottingham.ac.uk
Oksanen
Tuula
T
Vahtera
Jussi
J
Väänänen
Ari
A
De Vogli
Roberto
R
Elovainio
Marko
M
Pentti
Jaana
J
Leka
Stavroula
S
Cox
Thomas
T
Kivimäki
Mika
M
D000328:Adult; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017150:Public Sector; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000523:psychology*; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D012931:Social Environment; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D017132:Workplace / Q000523:psychology*