Smokers' Narrative Accounts of Quit Attempts: Aids and Impediments to Success

Author(s)

Todd M. Helvig, Nova Southeastern University
Linda C. Sobell, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow
Mark B. Sobell, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow
Edward Simco, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

6-2006

Publication Title

Psychology of Addictive Behaviors

Volume

20

Issue/Number

2

First Page

219

ISSN

0893-164X

Last Page

224

Abstract/Excerpt

In this study, the authors used cigarette smokers' narratives describing their quit attempts to understand factors related to the change process. Maintained quitters (MQs, n = 59) and temporary quitters (TQs, n = 47) wrote autobiographical narratives describing their most serious (TQs) or last (MQs) quit attempt. Two types of content analysis were used to analyze the reports: (a) dichotomous ratings of the presence or absence of an event and (b) computerized content analysis of event or word frequency. The valence (anti- or pro-smoking cessation) of change factors was also examined. MQs wrote significantly more affective statements than did TQs. When valence was examined, MQs made significantly more pro-smoking cessation social support, cognitive, and affective statements than TQs did, and TQs made significantly more anti-smoking cessation social support and affective statements than MQs did.

DOI

10.1037/0893-164X.20.2.219

NSUWorks Citation

Helvig, T. M., Sobell, L. C., Sobell, M. B., Simco, E. (2006). Smokers' Narrative Accounts of Quit Attempts: Aids and Impediments to Success. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 20(2), 219-224.
Available at: https://nsuworks.nova.edu/cps_facarticles/542