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.

Predicting nicotine dependence profiles among adolescent smokers: the roles of personal and social-environmental factors in a longitudinal framework

“…Clinical features of dependence can emerge even during the earliest phases of smoking initiation [ 1 , 2 ]. The occurrence of nicotine dependence symptoms among adolescent smokers forms an important barrier for smoking cessation [ 3 - 5 ]. Therefore, greater insights into the epidemiology and aetiology of nicotine dependence among adolescent smokers may have important implications for smoking prevention and cessation interventions among adolescents.…”