Unaided Smoking Cessation and Predictors of Failure to Quit in a Community Sample: Effects of Gender

The majority of smokers who eventually quit do so without formal treatment, but few studies have examined a range of predictors of cessation among self-quitters and whether they differ depending on smokers' gender. The present study examined predictors of quitting in a community sample of 93 men and 117 women smokers attempting to quit on their own. Smokers were mailed a baseline questionnaire battery, and instructed to complete other measures the first and second day of their quit attempt. No gender difference in quit rates was observed, but predictors of smoking differed between men and women. Among men, alcohol use, caffeine consumption, and negative affect predicted smoking on quit day. Among women, nicotine dependence, age, ethnicity, weight control smoking, and not eating during urges predicted smoking on quit day. Social support seeking was negatively associated with smoking on the quit day among women, but the opposite relationship was obtained for men. Men's smoking 4 months later was predicted by baseline social pressures to quit and use of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). For women, weight control smoking and trait anxiety predicted smoking at the 4-month follow-up.