title: Association between positivity and smoking cessation.
abstract: The literature documents that personality characteristics are associated with healthy lifestyles, including smoking. Among positive traits, Positivity (POS), defined as a general disposition conducive to facing experience under a positive outlook has shown robust associations with psychological health. Thus, the present study investigated the extent to which POS is able to predict (i) relapse after quitting smoking and (ii) the desire to smoke again. All participants (481) had previously attended a Group Counselling Program (GCP) for Smoking Cessation (from 2005 through 2010). They were contacted through telephone interview. Among participants, 244 were ex-smokers (age: years 56.3 ± 10.08, 52% female) and 237 were still-smokers (age: years 55.0 ± 9.63; 63.5% female). The association of POS with "craving to smoke" levels was assessed with multivariate linear regression analysis while controlling also for important differences in personality such as conscientiousness and general self-efficacy, as well as for gender and age. Results showed that POS was significantly and negatively associated with smoking status and with craving to smoke. Among covariates (i.e., conscientiousness, generalized self-efficacy), gender was associated with smoking status and with craving to smoke. Altogether these findings corroborate the idea that POS plays a significant role in sustaining individuals' efforts to quit smoking.
authors: Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, "V. Erspamer" School of Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy.
authors: Maria Caterina
authors: 0000-0002-8022-0526
authors: MC
authors: Grassi
authors: Department of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via dei Marsi 78, 00185 Rome, Italy.
authors: Guido
authors: G
authors: Alessandri
authors: Department of Clinical Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell'Università 37, 00185 Rome, Italy.
authors: Stefania
authors: 0000-0001-5541-3265
authors: S
authors: Pasquariello
authors: Department of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via dei Marsi 78, 00185 Rome, Italy.
authors: Michela
authors: M
authors: Milioni
authors: Department of Clinical Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell'Università 37, 00185 Rome, Italy.
authors: Domenico
authors: D
authors: Enea
authors: Department of Clinical Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell'Università 37, 00185 Rome, Italy.
authors: Mauro
authors: M
authors: Ceccanti
authors: Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, "V. Erspamer" School of Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy.
authors: Paolo
authors: P
authors: Nencini
authors: Department of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via dei Marsi 78, 00185 Rome, Italy.
authors: Gian Vittorio
authors: GV
authors: Caprara
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001294:Attitude to Health; D066249:Craving; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors; D016540:Smoking Cessation