Exploring motivation to quit and risk appraisals of hookah tobacco smoking for self and partner among a member of single and dual smoker couples

We examined these associations by surveying one member of dual smoker (i.e., both partners smoke) and single smoker (i.e., one partner smokes) couples who engages in WTS. We enrolled online adults ages 18–32 who engaged in WTS during the last month and were in a committed relationship of at least six months. Participants rated their harm to self and, when relevant, to partner, how much they were harming their partner due to their WTS, and partner’ s smoke exposure. Participants reported their motivation to quit. Of the 323 participants, 215 (67%) were in dual smoker couples. Participants in dual smoker couples reported lower own perceived risk, which correlated highly with perceived partner risk, than participants in single smoker couples; th ey also reported harming their partners more even though they downplayed how frequency of smoke exposure was harming the partner. Motivation to quit did not differ by couple type. Across couple types, motivation to quit increased with greater perceived harms. Smokers in dual compared to single smoke r couples downplay their risks and perceived harms their smoking causes their partner. Interventions focused on harms to self and partner may be effective to increase motivation to quit and cessation in both couple types.

Source: Journal of Behavioral Medicine - November 1, 2022 Category: Psychiatry Source Type: research