The relation between social support and smoking cessation: revisiting an established measure to improve prediction.
BACKGROUND
Although social support is an integral element in smoking cessation, the literature presents mixed findings regarding the type(s) of social support that are most helpful. The Partner Interaction Questionnaire (PIQ) is commonly used to measure social support in this context.


OBJECTIVE
We explored the possibility that more nuanced distinctions between items on the PIQ than what is customarily used could improve the prediction of cessation.


METHODS
Baseline PIQ responses of smokers enrolled in a cessation program was submitted to an exploratory factor analysis. Emergent factors were used to predict cessation at several time points.


RESULTS
Four factors emerged, which differed from the two subscales that are typically used. The four-factor version predicted cessation; the two-factor version did not.


CONCLUSIONS
Identifying the types of social support that predict smoking cessation depend on our ability to measure social support. More nuanced measures will likely clarify the role of social support in cessation.
Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, 75 East River Road, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA, burns398@umn.edu.
Rachel J
RJ
Burns
Alexander J
AJ
Rothman
Steven S
SS
Fu
Bruce
B
Lindgren
Anne M
AM
Joseph
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult