Reactions of Young Adult Smokers to Warning Labels on Cigarette Packages

Perceptions and Perceived Impact of Graphic Cigarette Health Warning Labels on Smoking Behavior Among U.S. Young Adults

“…Although there is little research on warning label effectiveness among young adults, our results are consistent with the available literature and also provide new information on the potential impact of graphic labels by age and within subgroups of current smokers. Our study supports previous findings in youth and young adults that graphic HWLs play an important role in preventing smoking, in addition to encouraging cessation in young adults (O'Hegarty et al, 2006(O'Hegarty et al, , 2007Vardavas et al, 2009). Findings from this study also provide some evidence for potentially effective messaging among subgroups of smokers for whom there is currently little information.…”

“…Our data support a potential cessation effect of the graphic HWLs in subgroups of current smokers and a preventive effect among nonsmokers. Although the current study did not expose participants to the HWLs as part of the study design, the findings among young adult nonsmokers are consistent with quantitative and qualitative evidence from U.S. and Canadian young adults that noted stronger reactions to graphic warning labels among women in terms of considering health effects (O'Hegarty et al, 2007), motivating smokers to quit (Koval, Aubut, Pederson, O'Hegarty, & Chan, 2005), and maintaining abstinence among former smokers (O'Hegarty et al, 2006), particularly for sex-specific messages. They also speak to the importance of increasing awareness of graphic HWLs among nonsmokers to ensure a greater preventive impact among young adults when graphic labels are implemented.…”

“…Studies of HWLs in young adults show that graphic HWLs are more effective than text-only warnings at garnering attention, communicating risk, and discouraging smoking (O'Hegarty, Pederson, Yenokyan, Nelson, & Wortley, 2007). Youth and young adult nonsmokers report that graphic HWLs would dissuade them from experimentation with cigarettes and perceive that graphic HWLs would be an effective intervention for prevention, cessation, and relapse prevention (O'Hegarty et al, 2006;Vardavas, Connolly, Karamanolis, & Kafatos, 2009).…”

Vulnerability and self-perceived health status among light and heavy smokers: the relationship to short-term fear appeal tobacco control messages

“…Communications elements related to daily losses, with their clear and focused message, appeared to be important for heavy smokers to see meaning in the information they received 36,37,38 . However, future studies should consider the population impact gain with different communication messages targeting smokers with different levels of cigarette consumption.…”

SBM and SRNT urge increased funding of quitlines and research to maximize public health benefits of 1-800-QUIT-NOW on cigarette packs

“…Existing international studies demonstrate that warning labels that effectively communicate the risks of smoking, increase quitting motivations, intentions, and attempts, and that smokers who perceive greater smoking-related health hazards are more likely to consider quitting, attempt to quit, and quit [3][4][5]. Combining new warning labels with the 1-800-QUIT-NOW number and quitline promotions is likely to generate similar synergistic impacts in quit motivation, attempts and successes, and to reduce disparities.…”