Self-efficacy as a predictor for the cessation of smoking: Methodological issues and implications for smoking cessation programs

Abstract

A prospective study focused on self-efficacy as a predictor for smoking cessation. Subjects were 123 Dutch participants in a 3-week smoking cessation group program. Before and after treatment perceived self-efficacy was measured by questionnaire. Three measures related to self-efficacy were used: a 17-item perceived ability scale (PAS), a 10-item perceived difficulty scale (PDS), and a 1-item perceived ability measure (1-item PAM). Smoking behavior was assessed through self-report at pre- and post-treatment, and after 6-weeks and 1-year follow-up periods. Pre-treatment perceived difficulty was a predictor for short-term cessation, while post-treatment perceived ability predicted long-term abstinence for post-treatment successes. The 1-item PAM was the strongest predictor, which may indicate that asking respondents to include every possible situation in their answer to a 1-item PAM is an effective conceptualization of the dimension 'generality' of self-efficacy. The results of factor analyses on the items of pre- and post-treatment self-efficacy scales suggested sub-scales of which the 'negative/affective' subscale of the PAS and the 'negative/moodstates' subscale of the PDS were the strongest related with future abstinence. Based on the results, implications for interventions on how to improve smokers' perceptions of self-efficacy will be discussed.