Adolescents’ movement towards cessation of smoking: Role and relative value of the processes of change and nicotine dependence

Abstract

The present study addresses the applicability of the Transtheoretical Model's processes of change in explaining adolescents’ readiness to quit smoking. Furthermore, the association between nicotine dependence and readiness to quit was assessed both directly, as well as indirectly through the processes of change. A cross-sectional survey was conducted, identifying 1547 weekly smokers aged 14–18 years. Structural equation modelling showed that the processes of change were only marginally associated with readiness to quit. Adding nicotine dependence to the model showed a direct association between nicotine dependence and readiness to quit. Only one process of change, self-liberation (i.e. choice/commitment to change and belief in the ability to change), was found to mediate this association. Nicotine dependence appeared to be highly important in adolescents’ readiness to quit.

Keywords:

• Nicotine dependence
• processes of change
• stages of change
• smoking cessation
• adolescents

Acknowledgements

This study was financed by the Dutch Asthma Foundation and STIVORO for a smoke free future.

Notes

Note

[1] It should be stated that within the studies by Herzog et al. (1999) and Segan et al. (2002, 2004) the short-form measure of the processes of change was used, and in addition, that the first two studies mentioned did not assess all of the 10 processes of change.