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Stress and Quitting Among African American Smokers

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This study examined the relationship between stress and the likelihood of quitting among 300 urban African American smokers enrolled in the placebo arm of a controlled randomized trial assessing the efficacy of bupropion for smoking cessation. Participants were predominantly female, middle-aged, and of lower income. Participants received 7 weeks of placebo treatment and counseling as well as a self-help guide. Quit status and stress, measured with the Perceived Stress Scale and an adapted Hassles Index, were assessed at baseline, end of treatment, and 6 month follow-up. Results indicated that although baseline stress did not predict quitting at later visits, higher concurrent stress levels were associated with not being abstinent. Furthermore, changes (reductions) in perceived stress from baseline also predicted abstinence at the end of treatment. Results suggest that methods to help African Americans cope with stress as they attempt to quit smoking may prevent relapse to smoking.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This manuscript was funded by grants RO1 CA77856 and K07 CA87714 from the National Cancer Institute. Glaxo-Wellcome, Inc. provided study medication but played no role in the design, conduction of the study, or interpretation and analysis of the data. The authors gratefully acknowledge our community collaboration with Swope Parkway Health Center and extend appreciation to the Kick It at Swope staff for their assistance in implementing the project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, Kansas, USA

    Brian K. Manning, Matthew S. Mayo & Jasjit S. Ahluwalia

  2. Department of Psychology, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, Missouri, USA

    Delwyn Catley

  3. Department of Psychology, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, USA

    Kari Jo Harris

  4. Kansas Cancer Institute, University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, Kansas, USA

    Matthew S. Mayo & Jasjit S. Ahluwalia

  5. Department of Family Medicine, University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, Kansas, USA

    Jasjit S. Ahluwalia

  6. Department of Internal Medicine, University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, Kansas, USA

    Jasjit S. Ahluwalia

  7. National Research Network, American Academy of Family Physicians, 11400 Tomahawk Creek Parkway, Leawood, KS, 66211-2672, USA

    Brian K. Manning

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  1. Brian K. Manning
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  2. Delwyn Catley
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  5. Jasjit S. Ahluwalia
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Correspondence to Brian K. Manning.

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Manning, B.K., Catley, D., Harris, K.J. et al. Stress and Quitting Among African American Smokers. J Behav Med 28, 325–333 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-005-9004-9

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