Smoking Cessation and Quality of Life: Changes in Life Satisfaction Over 3 Years Following a Quit Attempt
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ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Smoking Cessation and Quality of Life: Changes in Life Satisfaction Over 3 Years Following a Quit Attempt Megan E. Piper, Ph.D. & Susan Kenford, Ph.D. & Michael C. Fiore, M.D., M.P.H., M.B.A. & Timothy B. Baker, Ph.D.
Published online: 10 December 2011 # The Society of Behavioral Medicine 2011
Abstract Background There has been limited research addressing changes in subjective well-being as a result of quitting smoking. Purpose The purpose of this study was to use longitudinal data to determine the relation between smoking cessation and subjective measures of well-being, including global quality of life (QOL), health-related QOL (HR-QOL), affect, relationship satisfaction, and stressor occurrence. Methods As part of a randomized, placebo-controlled smoking cessation trial, 1,504 participants (58.2% women, 83.9% white) completed assessments and had their smoking status biochemically confirmed at baseline and years 1 and 3 post-quit. Results Compared with continuing smokers, quitters showed improved global QOL, HR-QOL, and affect at years 1 and 3 and fewer stressors by year 3. Smoking status did not influence marital relationship satisfaction. Conclusions Successful quitters, in contrast to continuing smokers, reported improved subjective well-being, which could be used to motivate quit attempts by individuals with concerns about what life will be like without cigarettes. M. E. Piper : M. C. Fiore : T. B. Baker Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, 1930 Monroe St., Suite 200, Madison, WI 53593, USA S. Kenford Department of Psychology, Xavier University, 3800 Victory Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45207, USA M. E. Piper (*) Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention, 1930 Monroe St., Suite 200, Madison, WI 53711, USA e-mail: [email protected]
Keywords Smoking . Smoking cessation . Quality of life . Health . Marital satisfaction . Affect
Introduction The dangers of smoking and the beneficial effects of smoking cessation on health are well established [1]. However, less is known about how quitting smoking affects quality of life (QOL). Smokers report various reasons for wanting to smoke, such as coping with stress and cravings, social facilitation, and improving mood [2, 3]. Furthermore, smokers report concerns about the effects of quitting smoking such as gaining weight, decreased ability to cope with stressors and negative affects, social ostracism, loss of pleasure, and intense cravings [4, 5]. Such findings raise questions about how quitting vs. continued smoking actually affects general mood, perceived health status, life satisfaction, and quality of life in the long term—once the effects of withdrawal have dissipated. Increases in subjective well-being may be as important or relevant to smokers as quitting to reduce disease risk [6]. More compelling evidence on this issue could be used to quell smokers’ fears and might actually be used to encourage more quit attempts. QOL measures can be divided into instruments that focu
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