The role of fear of COVID-19 in motivation to quit smoking and reductions in cigarette smoking: a preliminary investigation of at-risk cigarette smokers

Gold, Alexandra K.; Hoyt, Danielle L.; Milligan, Megan A; Hiserodt, Michele; Samora, Jake; Leyro, Teresa M.; Zvolensky, Michael J.; Otto, Michael W.

doi:10.1080/16506073.2021.1877340

Cited by 33 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…Our findings support these results, with 70% of smokers reporting no change in their smoking, although our estimate of no-effect was higher than most others in the literature [ 28 , 29 , 31 , 33 ], lower compared to a Canadian study [ 32 ], but equivalent to a study in the Netherlands conducted among Dutch smokers [ 27 ]. Our estimates of reduced smoking (14%) and quit attempts (1%) were much lower compared to some studies [ 31 , 35 , 40 , 42 , 43 ], but were very similar to others [ 27 , 28 – 30 , 41 ]. Studies varied widely in reporting of increased smoking, from 4% in Canada [ 32 ] to 50% in Australia [ 29 ], again likely because of differing samples and survey questions.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

“…Some studies have also reported that a similar proportion of smokers either increased or decreased smoking [ 27 , 31 , 32 , 35 ], while others have found that there was a higher proportion of smokers who increased smoking than reduced smoking [ 13 , 28 , 29 , 37 ]. Some studies only reported on either increasing [ 34 , 38 , 39 ] or decreasing [ 40 , 41 , 42 ] smoking, and these studies have shown highly varied estimates of either behavior.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Few studies have explored whether COVID-19 risk perceptions are related to changes in smoking. A national study in the UK showed that smokers who experienced significant stress about becoming seriously ill from COVID-19 were more likely to increase smoking [ 13 ], while other studies suggest that smokers who had greater concern of getting COVID-19 and/or those who perceive that smoking increases the risk of COVID-19, were more likely to be motivated to quit [ 31 ], reduce smoking [ 35 , 42 ] or make a quit attempt [ 34 ]. While some of these studies appear to show that COVID-19 may incentivise some smokers to quit, they are somewhat limited by methodological shortcomings, such as the use of convenience samples, sampling bias (e.g., not representative of the smoking population), and/or not evaluating a range of other variables that may be related to changes in smoking.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Smokers’ cognitive and behavioural reactions during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic: Findings from the 2020 ITC Four Country Smoking and Vaping Survey

et al. 2021

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Introduction COVID-19 is primarily a respiratory illness, and smoking adversely impacts the respiratory and immune systems; this confluence may therefore incentivize smokers to quit. The present study, conducted in four high-income countries during the first global wave of COVID-19, examined the association between COVID-19 and: (1) thoughts about quitting smoking; (2) changes in smoking (quit attempt, reduced or increased smoking, or no change); and (3) factors related to a positive change (making a quit attempt or reducing smoking) based on an adapted framework of the Health Belief Model. Methods This cross-sectional study included 6870 adult smokers participating in the Wave 3 (2020) ITC Four Country Smoking and Vaping Survey conducted in Australia, Canada, England, and United States (US). These four countries had varying responses to the pandemic by governments and public health, ranging from advising voluntary social distancing to implementing national and subnational staged lockdowns. Considering these varying responses, and the differences in the number of confirmed cases and deaths (greatest in England and the US and lowest in Australia), smoking behaviours related to COVID-19 may have differed between countries. Other factors that may be related to changes in smoking because of COVID-19 were also explored (e.g., sociodemographics, nicotine dependence, perceptions about personal and general risks of smoking on COVID-19). Regression analyses were conducted on weighted data. Results Overall, 46.7% of smokers reported thinking about quitting because of COVID-19, which differed by country (p<0.001): England highest (50.9%) and Australia lowest (37.6%). Thinking about quitting smoking because of COVID-19 was more frequent among: females, ethnic minorities, those with financial stress, current vapers, less dependent smokers (non-daily and fewer cigarettes smoked/day), those with greater concern about personal susceptibility of infection, and those who believe COVID-19 is more severe for smokers. Smoking behaviour changes due to COVID-19 were: 1.1% attempted to quit, 14.2% reduced smoking, and 14.6% increased smoking (70.2% reported no change). Positive behaviour change (tried to quit/reduced smoking) was reported by 15.5% of smokers, which differed by country (p = 0.02), where Australia had significantly lower rates than the other three countries. A positive behavioural smoking change was more likely among smokers with: lower dependence, greater concern about personal susceptibility to infection, and believing that COVID-19 is more severe for smokers. Conclusions Though nearly half of smokers reported thinking about quitting because of COVID-19, the vast majority did not change their smoking behaviour. Smokers were more likely to try and quit or reduce their smoking if they had greater concern about susceptibility and severity of COVID-19 related to smoking. Smokers in Australia were least likely to reduce or try to quit smoking, which could be related to the significantly lower impact of COVID-19 during the early phase of the pandemic relative to the other countries.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Smokers’ cognitive and behavioural reactions during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic: Findings from the 2020 ITC Four Country Smoking and Vaping Survey

et al. 2021

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“…It is predicted that both perceived severity of COVID-19, as well as perceived probability of COVID-19 infection, will positively correlate with the motivation to quit. Further, it is expected that these beliefs will mediate the positive relationship between fear of COVID-19 on the motivation to quit smoking previously found ( Gold et al, 2021 ). Similarly, heavier smoking, as measured with nicotine dependence, will correlate with higher motivation to quit when mediated through probability and severity beliefs due to their higher objective risk.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…In order to effectively enhance smoking cessation interventions during the COVID-19 pandemic, or potential future pandemics, it is essential to isolate which specific psychological factors mediate the influence of the novel health risk on the motivation to quit. For instance, Gold et al (2021) found that fear of COVID-19 significantly correlated with higher motivation to quit, even more so than objective risk factors for COVID-19 severity (e.g. age), suggesting an emotional component to the motivation to quit.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The relationship between COVID-19-specific health risk beliefs and the motivation to quit smoking: A UK-based survey

Brown

2021

Drug and Alcohol Dependence

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Background In some individuals who smoke the COVID-19 pandemic has triggered an increase in the motivation to quit smoking, due to the higher risk of severe COVID-19 infection. However, this change is not universal, and the motivation to quit appears dependent upon factors such as fear of COVID-19 and perceived risk from COVID-19. In the current investigation, both COVID-19 severity and infection probability beliefs were measured to isolate which beliefs correlated with the motivation to quit smoking. Methods UK-based smokers ( N = 243) completed an online survey between September and October 2020, in which they reported their current motivation to quit smoking, fear of COVID-19, and their beliefs about how severe COVID-19 infection would be and how probable COVID-19 infection was. Results The only significant predictor of the motivation to quit smoking was the perceived probability of COVID-19 infection, β = .22, p < .001, 95CI[.10, .34]. This relationship remained when controlling for the general perceived probability and severity of other smoking-related health conditions, β = .20, p = .002, 95CI[.08,.32], suggesting a COVID-19-specific effect. Further, perceived probability of COVID-19 infection mediated the positive impact of fear of COVID-19 on motivation, β = .07, p = .006, 95CI[.03,.13]. Conclusions The result places the perceived probability of COVID-19 infection as a central predictor of motivation to quit during the pandemic. Based on this evidence, messaging aiming to facilitate smoking cessation during the pandemic should focus on the highly contagious nature of the virus to increase the motivation to quit.

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Association of teleworking and smoking behavior of U.S. wage and salary workers

Nargis

Griffin

et al. 2021

Journal of Occupational Health

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Introduction The COVID‐19 pandemic has led to a major shift in workspace from office to home. This report examined how telecommuting is related to smoking behavior of wage and salary workers. Methods Self‐reported smoking behavior of 1,390 U.S. wage and salary workers aged 16–64 years from the Tobacco Use Supplement of the Current Population Survey 2018/19 were linked to the 2018 American Time Use Survey. Weighted multivariate logistic regression predicting smoking probability and generalized linear regression predicting smoking intensity were used for analysis. Results Almost a fifth (19%) of wage and salary workers reported working from home and over a half (52%) reported working in telecommuting amenable occupations. Nearly 12% were current smokers, smoking 14.7 cigarettes daily on average. Compared to their counterparts, smoking prevalence (percentage points) was lower among those employed in telecommuting amenable occupations (−0.52, p < .001 for all; 0.01, p = .862 for men; −2.40, p < .001 for women) and who worked more frequently from home (−0.21, p < .001 for all; −0.76, p < .001 for men; −0.03, p = .045 for women). Smoking intensity (cigarettes per day) was lower among those employed in telecommuting amenable occupations (−3.39, p = .03 for all; −0.36, p = .90 for men; −4.30, p = .21 for women). We found no statistically significant association between smoking intensity and telecommuting frequency. Conclusions The lower likelihood of smoking and lower level of smoking intensity among telecommuting wage and salary workers suggests the need for proactive efforts to address the potential exacerbation in occupation‐related smoking disparities between occupations that are and are not amenable to telecommuting.

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The role of fear of COVID-19 in motivation to quit smoking and reductions in cigarette smoking: a preliminary investigation of at-risk cigarette smokers

Cited by 33 publications

References 29 publications

Smokers’ cognitive and behavioural reactions during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic: Findings from the 2020 ITC Four Country Smoking and Vaping Survey

Smokers’ cognitive and behavioural reactions during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic: Findings from the 2020 ITC Four Country Smoking and Vaping Survey

The relationship between COVID-19-specific health risk beliefs and the motivation to quit smoking: A UK-based survey

Association of teleworking and smoking behavior of U.S. wage and salary workers

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