title: Self-Exempting Beliefs and Intention to Quit Smoking within a Socially Disadvantaged Australian Sample of Smokers.
abstract: An investigation of beliefs used to rationalise smoking will have important implications for the content of anti-smoking programs targeted at socioeconomically disadvantaged groups, who show the lowest rates of cessation in the population. This study aimed to assess the types of self-exempting beliefs reported by a sample of socioeconomically disadvantaged smokers, and identify associations between these beliefs and other smoking-related factors with quit intentions. A cross-sectional survey was conducted from March-December 2012 with smokers seeking welfare assistance in New South Wales (NSW), Australia (n = 354; response rate 79%). Responses to a 16-item self-exempting beliefs scale and intention to quit, smoker identity, and enjoyment of smoking were assessed. Most participants earned <AUD$400/week (70%), and had not completed secondary schooling (64%). All "jungle" beliefs (normalising the dangers of smoking due to ubiquity of risk) and selected "skeptic" beliefs were endorsed by 25%-47% of the sample, indicating these smokers may not fully understand the extensive risks associated with smoking. Smokers with limited quit intentions held significantly stronger self-exempting beliefs than those contemplating or preparing to quit (all p < 0.01). After adjusting for smoking-related variables only "skeptic" beliefs were significantly associated with intention to quit (p = 0.02). Some of these beliefs are incorrect and could be addressed in anti-smoking campaigns.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine &amp; Public Health, University of Newcastle, P.O. Box 833, Newcastle NSW 2300, Australia. ashleigh.guillaumier@newcastle.edu.au.
authors.forename: Ashleigh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guillaumier
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine &amp; Public Health, University of Newcastle, P.O. Box 833, Newcastle NSW 2300, Australia. billie.bonevski@newcastle.edu.au.
authors.forename: Billie
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bonevski
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine &amp; Public Health, University of Newcastle &amp; Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle 2305, Australia. chris.paul@newcastle.edu.au.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.affiliation: National Centre for Epidemiology &amp; Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra 0200, Australia. catherine.deste@anu.edu.au.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: D'Este
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine &amp; Public Health, University of Newcastle, P.O. Box 833, Newcastle NSW 2300, Australia. laura.twyman@newcastle.edu.au.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Twyman
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Design IT and Statistical Support Unit, University of Newcastle &amp; Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle 2305, Australia. kerrin.palazzi@hmri.org.au.
authors.forename: Kerrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Palazzi
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Design IT and Statistical Support Unit, University of Newcastle &amp; Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle 2305, Australia. christoper.oldmeadow@newcastle.edu.au.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Oldmeadow
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009517:New South Wales; D012907:Smoking / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology*; D012923:Social Class; D035862:Vulnerable Populations / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: disadvantage; self-exempting beliefs; smoking