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

TY - JOUR

T1 - The relationship between COVID-19-specific health risk beliefs and the motivation to quit smoking: a UK-based survey

AU - Brown, Chris

PY - 2021/8/28

Y1 - 2021/8/28

N2 - 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.© 2021, Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. The attached document (embargoed until 28/08/2022) is an author produced version of a paper published in DRUG AND ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE uploaded in accordance with the publisher’s self-archiving policy. The final published version (version of record) is available online at the link. Some minor differences between this version and the final published version may remain. We suggest you refer to the final published version should you wish to cite from it. 

AB - 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.© 2021, Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. The attached document (embargoed until 28/08/2022) is an author produced version of a paper published in DRUG AND ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE uploaded in accordance with the publisher’s self-archiving policy. The final published version (version of record) is available online at the link. Some minor differences between this version and the final published version may remain. We suggest you refer to the final published version should you wish to cite from it. 

KW - Health beliefs

KW - Motivation

KW - COVID-19

KW - Smoking cessation

KW - Outcome expectancy

U2 - 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2021.108981

DO - 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2021.108981

M3 - Article

SN - 0376-8716

VL - 227

JO - Drug and Alcohol Dependence

JF - Drug and Alcohol Dependence

M1 - 108981

ER -