Choi SH, Ling J, Noonan D, Kim W. Smoking behavior and social contexts associated with smoking among dual-smoker couples.
Public Health Nurs 2019;
37:161-168. [PMID:
31724240 DOI:
10.1111/phn.12686]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2019] [Revised: 10/25/2019] [Accepted: 10/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES
To examine smoking behavior and social contexts related to smoking among dual-smoker couples.
DESIGN
Cross-sectional online survey study.
SAMPLE
A convenience sample of 183 dual-smoker couples.
MEASUREMENTS
Investigator-developed survey on smoking and related social contexts.
RESULTS
Participants smoked 16.0 cigarettes daily for 14.2 years; 48.4% shared more than half of their smoking time with their spouse. More than half made quit attempts in the past year individually (M = 5.3) and jointly (M = 2.5). Couples sharing more smoking time were more likely to be motivated to quit (p = .002), make quit attempts (p < .0001), and be interested in cessation interventions (p = .002); but less likely to implement home smoking bans (p < .001). Among those who reported quit attempts, 41% quit by themselves and 15.3% sought professional assistance. Most common reasons for relapse were chronic stress and crisis, 63.6%, however, were interested in smoking cessation services, preferably technology-based interventions.
CONCLUSIONS
We found smoking interdependence within dual-smoker couples. Despite high levels of motivation to quit, most did not utilize professional help, leading to low successful quit rates. Technology-based smoking cessation interventions incorporating spousal support and addressing stress/crisis may best assist dual-smoker couples.
Collapse