title: Changing implicit attitudes toward smoking: results from a web-based approach-avoidance practice intervention.
abstract: Implicit attitudes have been shown to predict smoking behaviors. Therefore, an important goal is the development of interventions to change these attitudes. This study assessed the effects of a web-based intervention on implicit attitudes toward smoking and receptivity to smoking-related information. Smokers (N = 284) were recruited to a two-session web-based study. In the first session, baseline data were collected. Session two contained the intervention, which consisted of assignment to the experimental or control version of an approach-avoidance task and assignment to an anti-smoking or control public service announcement (PSA), and post-intervention measures. Among smokers with less education and with plans to quit, implicit attitudes were more negative for those who completed the approach-avoidance task. Smokers with more education who viewed the anti-smoking PSA and completed the approach-avoidance task spent more time reading smoking-related information. An approach-avoidance task is a potentially feasible strategy for changing implicit attitudes toward smoking and increasing receptivity to smoking-related information.
authors: Department of Applied Health Science, Indiana University School of Public Health, 1025 E 7th St, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA, jtmacy@indiana.edu.
authors: Jonathan T
authors: JT
authors: Macy
authors: Laurie
authors: L
authors: Chassin
authors: Clark C
authors: CC
authors: Presson
authors: Jeffrey W
authors: JW
authors: Sherman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D011214:Practice, Psychological; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000523:psychology*; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted; D055815:Young Adult