Prospective Predictors of Long-Term Abstinence Versus Relapse Among Smokers Who Quit as Young Adults.

Objectives. We sought to identify prospective predictors of long-term abstinence versus relapse among individuals who quit smoking as young adults. Methods. Participants from an ongoing longitudinal study of smoking who had quit for at least 1 year between the ages of 18 and 24 years (n = 327) were divided into those who later reported not smoking for more than 5 years (long-term abstinence) or reported current smoking, defined as smoking at least monthly (relapse). Logistic regression was used to examine odds ratios (ORs) of prospective predictors of long-term abstinence versus relapse. Results. Overall, 67% of participants maintained long-term abstinence and 33% relapsed. The strongest predictor of avoiding relapse was marrying a nonsmoker (adjusted OR [AOR] = 0.07; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.03, 0.21). Other predictors included making 1 lifetime quit attempt (AOR = 0.13; 95% CI = 0.04, 0.44), having as a young adult only 1 parent who smoked (AOR = 0.23; 95% CI = 0.06, 0.93), and working in a completely smoke-free building (AOR = 0.13; 95% CI = 0.03, 0.58). Conclusions. The factors related to smoking in the social environment played the largest role in predicting long-term abstinence versus relapse. (Am J Public Health. 2007;97:1470-1475. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2006.101386) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]