IS SELF-EFFICACY FOR SMOKING ABSTINENCE A CAUSE OF, OR A REFLECTION ON, SMOKING BEHAVIOR CHANGE?

Social learning theory considers self-efficacy as a causal factor in behavior change. However, in line with behavioral theory, recent clinical research suggests that self-efficacy ratings may reflect, rather than cause, behavior change. To test these two disparate views, self-efficacy was related to actual smoking abstinence on the next day (i.e. self-efficacy causes change), and abstinence status over one day was tested as a predictor of rated self-efficacy for being quit the next day (i.e. reflects change). All data were from two very similar cross-over studies evaluating the short-term effects of both placebo versus medication, nicotine patch (n=209) or varenicline (n=123), on smoking abstinence during week-long practice quit attempts. Placebo versus active medication periods were separated by an ad lib smoking washout, and analyses controlled for prior day's abstinence or self-efficacy values. Results were very consistent between studies in showing essentially bi-directional associations: daily self-efficacy predicted next day's abstinence, and current day's abstinence status predicted self-efficacy for not smoking the next day. However, secondary factors differentially predicted abstinence and, to a lesser extent, self-efficacy between these two medication studies. These data provide some support for both social learning and behavioral theories of smoking behavior change, although self-efficacy may only briefly predict subsequent short periods of abstinence as assessed in these studies. Nonetheless, because self-efficacy has long been assumed to cause behavior change, including smoking cessation, the notion of self-efficacy as a reflection of recent smoking behavior change in these studies warrants greater attention in clinical research on smoking cessation treatment.