Parent smoker role conflict and planning to quit smoking: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

BackgroundRole conflict can motivate behavior change. No prior studies have explored the association between parent/smoker role conflict and readiness to quit. The objective of the study is to assess the association of a measure of parent/smoker role conflict with other parent and child characteristics and to test the hypothesis that parent/smoker role conflict is associated with a parent’s intention to quit smoking in the next 30 days. As part of a cluster randomized controlled trial to address parental smoking (Clinical Effort Against Secondhand Smoke Exposure—CEASE), research assistants completed exit interviews with 1980 parents whose children had been seen in 20 Pediatric Research in Office Settings (PROS) practices and asked a novel identity-conflict question about “how strongly you agree or disagree” with the statement, “My being a smoker gets in the way of my being a parent.” Response choices were dichotomized as “Strongly Agree” or “Agree” versus “Disagree” or “Strongly Disagree” for the analysis. Parents were also asked whether they were “seriously planning to quit smoking in 30 days.” Chi-square and logistic regression were performed to assess the association between role conflict and other parent/children characteristics. A similar strategy was used to determine whether role conflict was independently associated with intention to quit in the next 30 days.MethodsAs part of a RTC in 20 pediatric practices, exit interviews were held with smoking parents after their child’s exam. Parents who smoked were asked questions about smoking behavior, smoke-free home and car rules, and role conflict. Role conflict was assessed with the question, “Please tell me how strongly you agree or disagree with the statement: ‘My being a smoker gets in the way of my being a parent.’ (Answer choices were: “Strongly agree, Agree, Disagree, Strongly Disagree.”)ResultsOf 1980 eligible smokers identified, 1935 (97%) responded to the role-conflict question, and of those, 563 (29%) reported experiencing conflict. Factors that were significantly associated with parent/smoker role conflict in the multivariable model included: being non-Hispanic white, allowing home smoking, the child being seen that day for a sick visit, parents receiving any assistance for their smoking, and planning to quit in the next 30 days. In a separate multivariable logistic regression model, parent/smoker role conflict was independently associated with intention to quit in the next 30 days [AOR 2.25 (95% CI 1.80-2.18)].ConclusionThis study demonstrated an association between parent/smoker role conflict and readiness to quit. Interventions that increase parent/smoker role conflict might act to increase readiness to quit among parents who smoke.Trial registrationClinical trial registration number: NCT00664261.

Smoking, smoking cessation and tobacco control in rural China: a qualitative study in Shandong Province

“…Even among pregnant women, studies have found that while many may limit home smoking to protect their unborn children, few ask smoking family members to quit or to reduce cigarette consumption [11, 30, 31]. On the other hand, parent-smoker role conflict and concerns of children’s health are an important motivation for smoking parents to quit [32, 33], suggesting that interventions targeting children to persuade parents to quit or providing smoking cessation counseling to parents during children’s healthcare visits [29] may be more effective strategies to smoking cessation among parents.Effectively regulate local tobacco products. Another barrier to smoking cessation in China is the high affordability and wide price range of cigarettes.…”

Program uptake of a parent-tailored telephone smoking cessation counselling: An examination of recruitment approaches

“…One potential way to increase parents’ motivation may be to focus on the role conflict between being a parent and a smoker. One study found that parents who experienced this conflict were more likely to plan to quit smoking in the future 28 .…”

Healthy families: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial of a screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment intervention for caregivers to reduce secondhand smoke exposure among pediatric emergency patients

“…The SBIRT will amplify these issues in the context of the child being brought in for treatment, thereby permitting a discussion about the risks of continued smoking and the benefits of quitting. It will work on heightening the caregiver’s innate self-concept and altruistic role as a provider for their child who wants to help improve their child’s health [ 49 – 51 ]. Life course and tobacco use variables strongly moderate smoking outcomes, and contribute to the content of the 10–15 min SBIRT session when barriers and facilitators to quitting emerge.…”