The effects of smoking self-identity and quitting self-identity on attempts to quit smoking.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the effect of two types of self-identity on attempts to quit smoking: self-identity in terms of smoking and self-identity in terms of quitting.


METHODS
A prospective survey among an initial sample of 3,411 smokers. Smoking history variables and psychosocial variables from the theory of planned behavior are also measured.


METHODS
Intention to quit smoking and smoking cessation attempts 4 months later.


RESULTS
Both smoking identity and quitting identity matter, but they appear to play different roles in explaining intention to quit and in predicting actual attempts to quit. Quitting identity is particularly important for intention to quit, whereas both quitting identity and smoking identity are important for actually trying to quit. Recent attempts to quit slightly attenuate the negative effect of smoking identity on attempts to quit.


CONCLUSIONS
A broader interpretation of self-identity in terms of both current and aspired behavior offers a better understanding of when people might change health-relevant behavior.
van den Putte
Bas
B
Amsterdam School of Communications Research ASCoR, Department of Communication, University of Amsterdam, Kloveniersburgwal 48, 1012 CX, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. s.j.h.m.vandenputte@uva.nl
Yzer
Marco
M
Willemsen
Marc C
MC
de Bruijn
Gert-Jan
GJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012649:Self Concept; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult