title: Examination of a Process Model of Adolescent Smoking Self-Change Efforts in Relation to Gender.
abstract: Little information describes how adolescents change their smoking behavior. This study investigated the role of gender in the relationship of motivation and cognitive variables with adolescent smoking self-change efforts. Self-report and semi-structured interview data from a prospective study of smoking self-change efforts were examined among 98 adolescent smokers ages 14-18 (55% female). Social disapproval motives and short-term consequence reasons for quitting, quit self-efficacy and intentions to quit were modeled in relation to prospective self-quit attempts assessed at a 6-month follow-up, separately by gender. Hypothesized mediating relationships were not supported although gender differences were noted. Social influence motives related to intention to quit and prospective self-quit attempts among girls. For boys, intention to quit predicted making a self-quit attempt. Findings emphasize the importance of examining adolescent models separately by gender and contribute to understanding of mechanisms involved in adolescent smoking change efforts.
authors.affiliation: University of Maryland, Department of Psychology, CAPER Research and Treatment Clinic, 2103 Cole Field House, College Park, MD, 20742.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Macpherson
authors.forename: Mark G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Myers