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To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2005.12.013 Byline: J. Lee Westmaas (a), Roberta Ferrence (b), T. Cameron Wild (c) Keywords: Autonomy; Coping; Depressive symptoms; Smoking; Sociotropy Abstract: According to Beck's cognitive theory of depression, autonomy (high achievement concerns) and sociotropy (high interpersonal concerns) are vulnerability factors for depression when achievement or interpersonal stressors, respectively, are experienced. This hypothesis was tested among men and women attempting to quit smoking, an achievement stressor that can provoke depressive symptoms. Smokers recruited from the community (N =210) provided information about their quit attempt through mailed questionnaires. For the 48-h period following the quit, relationships among autonomy, sociotropy, coping, depressive symptoms and lapsing were assessed. Structural equation models supported the trait-congruence hypothesis because greater autonomy, but not sociotropy, was associated with elevated depressive symptoms among both men and women smokers. However, results were stronger for men ([beta] =.47, p =.0001) than for women ([beta] =.20, p =.05). After accounting for autonomy's relationship with depressive symptoms, greater autonomy was inversely associated with lapsing among men ([beta] =-.35, p =.01), but not women. Results point to the potential usefulness of a theoretical approach to understanding relationships between depressive symptoms and smoking cessation, and indicate that autonomous personality may be an important factor in smoking cessation in men. Author Affiliation: (a) Department of Psychology, State University of New York at Stony Brook,Stony Brook, NY 11794-2500, USA (b) Ontario Tobacco Research Unit, University of Toronto and Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Canada (c) Department of Public Health Sciences and Centre for Health Promotion Studies, University of Alberta, Canada

A study of current smokers in various stages of moving towards quitting and also of former smokers shows that as a person moves closer to quitting he or she is more willing to support anti-smoking legislation and is more knowledgeable about the health risks of smoking.

A telephone survey of 267 smokers in Ontario was undertaken to determine smokers level of interest in self-help smoking cessation materials. The study revealed that 55% of smokers were very interested or somewhat interested in receiving self-help materials. A desire to quit smoking in the next six months and low income were characteristics of many of the people interested in materials.

Purpose: To determine the impact of smoking cessation on lung cancer mortality among women. Methods: Survival analysis is used to assess the effect of smoking cessation on lung cancer death in the dietary cohort of 49,165 women aged 40 to 59 years enrolled in the Canadian National Breast Screening Study. Results: During an average of 10.3 years of follow-up, 106 women died of lung cancer. The risk of lung cancer mortality among women who quit before age 50 (HR=0.26; 95% CI, 0.13–0.55 among women who quit at ages 40–49) or quit in the previous 10 years (HR=0.39; 95% CI, 0.22–0.69) is substantially lower than the risk among current smokers. Women who quit after age 40 or have quit for less than 20 years are at substantially higher risk of lung cancer mortality compared with never smokers. Both duration of smoking cessation and age at quitting have independent effects on lung cancer mortality, after controlling for number of cigarettes smoked per day and number of years smoked, as well as other potential confounding variables. Conclusion: These findings suggest that programs and policies to promote early cessation of smoking and prevention of relapse should be a public health priority. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Despite extensive research on social norms, the sources of norm formation are not well understood. Social exposure to a behavior (defined as the composite of ways through which people see that behavior in their social, physical, and symbolic environments) can serve as a source of normative influence. Using tobacco as a case study, we propose that research should move beyond categories of individuals as sources of norms and focus on a broader range of sources of normative influences. An understanding of social exposure as a source for norms may be important to better understand and intervene in environments to promote public health. We make policy recommendations arising from the explication of social exposure and propose directions for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although the majority of smokers initiate smoking during their teenage years, significant rates of initiation occur among young adults. Adolescents are more price sensitive than adults, but little is known about the impact of tobacco taxation on smoking initiation among young adults. Using a longitudinal design, this study examined the impact of decreased cigarette price, resulting from tobacco tax cuts, on smoking initiation among Canadian young adults aged 20 to 24 years. Methods: Using Statistics Canada’s National Population Health Survey longitudinal file, this study examined young adults who did not smoke at baseline in 1994–1995 (n =636, representing over 1 million young adults) and who were reassessed at follow-up (1996–1997). Multivariable logistic regression analysis using bootstrap weights was conducted to estimate the impact of decreased cigarette price on smoking initiation. The analysis controlled for the potential confounding effect of sociodemographic and tobacco control variables. Sensitivity analyses were conducted. Price elasticity was estimated. Analyses were conducted in 2003 and 2004. Results: Approximately 10% of young adults had initiated smoking at follow-up. Decreased cigarette price was significantly associated with higher smoking initiation (adjusted odds ratio per $1 decrease for a carton of cigarettes=1.15, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.01–1.32, p =0.042). Sensitivity analyses showed similar results. Price elasticity was 3.36 (95% CI=0.07–6.75). Conclusions: Young adults are sensitive to cigarette prices. Reductions in cigarette prices will lead to increased smoking initiation among this group. Tobacco taxation should be an effective strategy to reduce smoking initiation among young adults. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper identifies factors that influence where people smoke outdoors and examines the impact of smoking on people who use outdoor public places. Direct observations of smoking at 12 outdoor public places and semi-structured interviews with 35 non-smoking and smoking adults were used to gather information in Toronto, Canada, about where people smoke, and smoking related behaviours, perspectives, and experiences. Observation and interview data show that smoking at building entrances was problematic. In total, approximately 37% of smoking observed across the sites was within 9m of building entrances. Shelter, convenience, the social culture of smoking, visibility, and the presence of non-smokers were key factors that influenced where people smoked. Clearly defined rules for smoking at building entrances may allow users of public spaces to avoid tobacco smoke when entering and exiting. However, further research is needed regarding the effectiveness of outdoor restrictions and potential unintended consequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is clear that regulatory strategies can be effective in reducing tobacco use. Because legislators ultimately determine whether many of these policies are enacted, they are a key focus for tobacco policy research. This study identifies political and personal predictors of Canadian legislators support for tobacco control policies. Data are from a 1996-97 survey of federal, provincial and territorial legislators. Multivariate regression analysis was used to assess relationships between five groups of variables (political factors including political ideology, personal characteristics, tobacco experiences, tobacco knowledge, interest group saliency) and support for tobacco control based on an 11-item scale. Support for tobacco control varied by political party. Support was higher among legislators who thought government had a duty to promote healthy lifestyles, knew second-hand smoke could cause lung cancer, knew tobacco caused more deaths than alcohol, and said they wanted more contact with medical associations about tobacco issues. Support was lower among current smokers and those with tobacco industry jobs in their ridings. The findings indicate that political party membership cannot be ignored in enlisting legislator support for tobacco control. It also appears that legislators who oppose tobacco control measures may not be opposed to tobacco control per se, but are more generally opposed to a government role in health promotion. Thus, public health professionals and tobacco control advocates need to be more attentive to the way tobacco control issues are framed for particular legislators. Further, meetings with health groups about tobacco issues would be welcomed by many legislators; non-governmental organizations and other health advocates could work to increase tobacco knowledge among legislators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]