Short-Term Fluctuations in Motivation to Quit Smoking in a Sample of Smokers in Hawaii

Abstract

Background: Despite its potential for usefulness in informing the development of smoking cessation interventions, short-term fluctuations in motivation to quit is a relatively understudied topic. Objectives: To assess the prevalence of smokers’ day-to-day fluctuations in motivation to quit, and to assess associations of day-to-day fluctuations in motivation to quit with several established cessation-related variables. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was administered to smokers in Hawaii (N = 1,567). To assess short-term fluctuations in motivation to quit smoking, participants were asked to respond “True” or “False” to the statement: “My motivation to quit smoking changes from one day to the next.” Other items measured desire to quit smoking, intention to quit, confidence in quitting, cigarette dependence, and other cessation-related variables. Results: “My motivation to quit smoking changes from one day to the next” was endorsed as true by 64.7% of smokers, and false by 35.3%. Analyses revealed that smokers who indicated fluctuating motivation were significantly more interested in quitting as compared to smokers without fluctuations. Fluctuations in motivation to quit also were associated with greater confidence in quitting, lesser cigarette dependence, and more recent quitting activity (all p < .01). Conclusions: Day-to-day fluctuations in motivation to quit are common. Day-to-day fluctuations in motivation to quit are strongly associated with higher motivation to quit, greater confidence in future quitting, and other positive cessation-relevant trends.

Keywords :

• Smoking cessation
• motivation to quit
• fluctuations
• changes
• intention to quit

THE AUTHORS

Thaddeus Herzog, PhD. Thaddeus Herzog is an associate professor in the Cancer Prevention and Control Program, University of Hawaii Cancer Center. He received his Ph.D. in Social Psychology from Harvard University. His research focuses on smoking cessation, motivation to quit smoking, and theories of behavior change. More recently, Dr. Herzog has studied betel nut use and cessation in the Asia-Pacific region.

Pallav Pokhrel, PhD, MPH, Pallav Pokhrel is an assistant professor with the Cancer Prevention and Control Program, University of Hawaii Cancer Center. He received his PhD. in Preventive Medicine (Health Behavior Research) from Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California. His research focuses on understanding the risk and protective factors of tobacco and other substance use in the domains of culture, motivation and self-regulation. His research seeks to determine the aspects of self-regulation and motivation that can be changed to result in behavior change and utilize the knowledge to develop prevention and treatment strategies that are culturally relevant.

Crissy Terawaki Kawamoto, BS, Crissy Terawaki Kawamoto is a study coordinator with the Cancer Prevention & Control Program at the University of Hawaii Cancer Center. In addition her to research experience, she previously served as a partnership program coordinator with the National Cancer Institute's Cancer Information Service. She has studied at Northwestern University and the University of Hawaii at Manoa.