The Contribution of Positive Affect and Loneliness on Readiness and Self-efficacy to Quit Smoking Am

Londoño T, Moore JR, Guerra ZC, Heydarian NM, Castro Y.
The Contribution of Positive Affect and Loneliness on Readiness and Self-efficacy to Quit Smoking Among Spanish-speaking Mexican American Smokers.
Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. 2021 Dec 21:1-10. doi: 10.1080/00952990.2021.1998513. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 34932409.

Background. The existing research on affective and interpersonal determinants of smoking cessation largely under-represents minority smokers, such as Latinos.

Objective. The current study examined associations between affective and interpersonal factors with intermediary smoking cessation variables among Mexican-American smokers (N = 290; 60% male).

Methods. Measures of positive and negative affect, social support, and loneliness were each examined for associations with measures of motivational readiness to quit smoking, and smoking abstinence self-efficacy. Significant predictors were entered into models simultaneously to examine their unique associations. Covariates included gender, age, and educational attainment.

Results. Negative affect (b = .68, SE b = .14, p < .001) and loneliness (b = .20, SE b = .09, p < .05) were independently associated with motivation. Negative affect (b = .20, SE b = .06, p < .01) and positive affect (b = .34 SE b = .07, p < .001) were independently associated with self-efficacy. In the final models, only negative affect was associated with motivation (b = .68, SE b = .17, p < .001); whereas negative (b = .17, SE b = .06, p < .01) and positive (b = . 32, SE b = .07, p < .001) affect were associated with self-efficacy.

Conclusion. Results highlight the importance of resilience factors (e.g., positive affect) among Mexican-American smokers. Cessation interventions regularly target negative affect among smokers; additional focus on positive affect in cessation interventions with this population may be warranted.