Intention to quit smoking among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender smokers.
BACKGROUND
Smoking is highly prevalent among lesbian, gay men, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons and contributes to health disparities. Guided by the theory of planned behavior (TPB), we identified beliefs related to attitudes, perceived behavioral control, and subjective norms, as well as LGBT-specific variables, to explain variance in intention to quit smoking in the next 6 months in LGBT smokers.


METHODS
Individual interviews (n = 19) identified beliefs about quitting smoking and LGBT-salient variables and aided in survey development. Surveys were sent to a random sample from an LGBT community center's mailing list and center attendees, with a 25.4% response rate. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted with the final sample of 101 smokers.


RESULTS
No sociodemographic or LGBT-specific variables beyond the TPB constructs were related to intention to quit smoking. A multivariate TPB model explained 33.9% of the variance in quitting intention. More positive attitudes and specific beliefs that cessation would make smokers feel more like their ideal selves and improve health and longevity were related to greater intention to quit (p values < .05). Subjective norm and perceived behavioral control were marginally significant, with perceived approval of partners and others and beliefs that life goal achievement would make it easier to quit positively related to intention. Depression and stress levels were high.


CONCLUSIONS
This is among the first studies to examine theoretically grounded variables related to intention to quit smoking in LGBT smokers. We identified specific behavioral, normative, and control beliefs that can serve as intervention targets to reduce smoking in the LGBT community.
Burkhalter
Jack E
JE
Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 641 Lexington Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10022, USA. burkhalj@mskcc.org
Warren
Barbara
B
Shuk
Elyse
E
Primavera
Louis
L
Ostroff
Jamie S
JS
D000328:Adult; D001727:Bisexuality / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D018452:Homosexuality, Female / Q000523:psychology*; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*