Paula Lozano1, James F Thrasher1,2, Melinda Forthofer3, James Hardin4, Luz Myriam Reynales Shigematsu2, Edna Arillo Santillán2, Nancy L Fleischer5. 1. Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC. 2. Departamento de Investigación Sobre Tabaco, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Cuernavaca, México. 3. Department of Public Health Sciences, College of Health and Human Services, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC. 4. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC. 5. Center for Social Epidemiology and Population Health, Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Tobacco control policies and other denormalization strategies may reduce tobacco use by stigmatizing smoking. This raises an important question: Does perceived smoking-related stigma contribute to a smoker's decision to quit? The aim of this study was to evaluate if perceived smoking-related stigma was associated with smoking cessation outcomes among smokers in Mexico and Uruguay. METHODS: We analyzed prospective data from a panel of adult smokers who participated in the 2008-2012 administrations of the International Tobacco Control Policy Evaluation Surveys in Mexico and Uruguay. We defined two analytic samples of participants: the quit behavior sample (n = 3896 Mexico; n = 1525 Uruguay) and the relapse sample (n = 596 Mexico). Generalized estimating equations were used to evaluate if different aspects of perceived stigma (ie, discomfort, marginalization, and negative stereotype) at baseline were associated with smoking cessation outcomes at follow-up. RESULTS: We found that perceived smoking-related stigma was associated with a higher likelihood of making a quit attempt in Uruguay but with a lower likelihood of successful quitting in Mexico. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that perceived smoking-related stigma may be associated with more quit attempts, but less successful quitting among smokers. It is possible that once stigma is internalized by smokers, it may function as a damaging force. Future studies should evaluate the influence of internalized stigma on smoking behavior. IMPLICATIONS: Although perceived smoking-related stigma may prompt smokers to quit smoking, smoking stigma may also serve as a damaging force for some individuals, making quitting more difficult. This study found that perceived smoking-related stigma was associated with a higher likelihood of making a quit attempt in Uruguay but with a lower likelihood of successful quitting in Mexico.
BACKGROUND:Tobacco control policies and other denormalization strategies may reduce tobacco use by stigmatizing smoking. This raises an important question: Does perceived smoking-related stigma contribute to a smoker's decision to quit? The aim of this study was to evaluate if perceived smoking-related stigma was associated with smoking cessation outcomes among smokers in Mexico and Uruguay. METHODS: We analyzed prospective data from a panel of adult smokers who participated in the 2008-2012 administrations of the International Tobacco Control Policy Evaluation Surveys in Mexico and Uruguay. We defined two analytic samples of participants: the quit behavior sample (n = 3896 Mexico; n = 1525 Uruguay) and the relapse sample (n = 596 Mexico). Generalized estimating equations were used to evaluate if different aspects of perceived stigma (ie, discomfort, marginalization, and negative stereotype) at baseline were associated with smoking cessation outcomes at follow-up. RESULTS: We found that perceived smoking-related stigma was associated with a higher likelihood of making a quit attempt in Uruguay but with a lower likelihood of successful quitting in Mexico. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that perceived smoking-related stigma may be associated with more quit attempts, but less successful quitting among smokers. It is possible that once stigma is internalized by smokers, it may function as a damaging force. Future studies should evaluate the influence of internalized stigma on smoking behavior. IMPLICATIONS: Although perceived smoking-related stigma may prompt smokers to quit smoking, smoking stigma may also serve as a damaging force for some individuals, making quitting more difficult. This study found that perceived smoking-related stigma was associated with a higher likelihood of making a quit attempt in Uruguay but with a lower likelihood of successful quitting in Mexico.
Authors: Shannon Gravely; Geoffrey T Fong; Pete Driezen; Mary McNally; James F Thrasher; Mary E Thompson; Marcelo Boado; Eduardo Bianco; Ron Borland; David Hammond Journal: Tob Control Date: 2014-12-15 Impact factor: 7.552
Authors: Stine Glenstrup; Lotus Sofie Bast; Dina Danielsen; Anette Andersen; Tine Tjørnhøj-Thomsen Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-01-06 Impact factor: 3.390