The role of self-efficacy, recovery self-efficacy, and preparatory planning in predicting short-term smoking relapse

• Published in: British journal of health psychology Vol. 17; no. 1; pp. 185 - 201
• Main Authors: Elfeddali, I., Bolman, C., Candel, M. J. J. M, Wiers, R. W., De Vries, H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.02.2012; British Psychological Society; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Addictive behaviors; Adolescent; Adult; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Cessation; Efficacy; Female; Humans; Logistic Models; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Netherlands; Prevention programs; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Quasi-experimental methods; Questionnaires; Recovery; Recovery (Medical); Recruitment; Relapse; Secondary Prevention; Self Efficacy; Selfefficacy; Short term; Smoking; Smoking Cessation; Smoking Prevention; Surveys and Questionnaires; Tobacco smoking; Tobacco, tobacco smoking; Toxicology; Transdermal medication; Young Adult; Short term; Self efficacy; Relapse; Planning; Recovery; Tobacco smoking
• ISSN: 1359-107X; 2044-8287
• DOI: 10.1111/j.2044-8287.2011.02032.x

Objectives. This study aims to identify the role of self‐efficacy, recovery self‐efficacy, and preparatory planning with regard to short‐term smoking relapse. We also assessed whether the importance of these variables differed for smokers quitting individually and without help (self‐quitters) and smokers quitting with the help of a smoking cessation course (group quitters). Design. A longitudinal quasi‐experimental study with follow‐ups at 1 and 3 months after the quit attempt was conducted in order to assess the role of baseline self‐efficacy, recovery self‐efficacy, and preparatory planning on short‐term relapse. Methods. The recruitment included adult daily smokers (N= 121), quitting in a smoking cessation course (N= 57) and self‐quitters (N= 64). Respondents received internet‐based questionnaires 2 weeks before quitting (baseline) and 1 and 3 months after the quit attempt. Predictors of relapse were analysed using logistic regression analyses. Results. Relapse at 1 and 3 months after the quit attempt was predicted by low levels of baseline self‐efficacy. Simple slope analyses revealed that less preparatory planning significantly predicted relapse at 1 month after the quit attempt among group quitters, but not among self‐quitters. Recovery self‐efficacy was only predictive of relapse after 1 month when self‐efficacy was excluded from the analyses. Moreover, among group quitters, the results indicated a borderline significant curved relation between recovery self‐efficacy and relapse after 1 month. Conclusions. Our results suggest that more research is needed on the role of preparatory planning and recovery self‐efficacy. Moreover, we recommend incorporating self‐efficacy increasing techniques in relapse‐prevention interventions.