Couples who smoke: A comparison of couples training versus individual training for smoking cessation

doi:10.1016/S0005-7894(86)80099-5

Behavior Therapy

Volume 17, Issue 5, November 1986, Pages 620-625

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0005-7894(86)80099-5 Get rights and content

Forty smoking couples were randomly assigned to either a nonaversive therapist-administered or to a self-administered/minimal contact smoking cessation program, or to an effort-only control. Both therapist-administered and self-administered/minimal contact treatment conditions were conducted with either a couples training approach or an individual training approach. Although abstinence by posttreatment was more frequent among couples in therapist-administered treatment, no significant differences between couples and individual training approaches were obtained. Partner support efforts may need to be continued during the maintenance period, particularly in light of findings in the present study of transient marital strain occurring during treatment.

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Cited by (23)

Incorporating social support into a community-wide smoking-cessation contest
1997, Addictive Behaviors
Social support for smoking cessation has been identified as a key factor differentiating which individuals are most likely to quit smoking. Attempts to enhance social support in clinic-based programs have generally been unsuccessful. This study investigated a strategy for increasing the involvement of supportive others among participants in a community-based smoking-cessation contest. These smokers were undertaking quit attempts without the supportive environment offered in clinic-based group programs. Subjects included 734 adult smokers who had participated in a smoking-cessation contest in their local community. Contest participants had the option of designating a “support person” who would assist them in quitting smoking and be eligible for prizes if the participant was a contest winner. Follow-up was by telephone survey 3 months after the end of the contest. No differences were observed in demographic or smoking history variables between those who did and did not elect to name a support person. A relatively high proportion (60%) of contest participants elected to identify a support person, and self-reported smoking-cessation rates were significantly better among those who named a support person than among those who did not. Identifying a support person was a particularly effective strategy for those with smoking or nonsupPortive spouses.
Social support for smoking cessation and abstinence: The lung health study
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This article evaluates the relationship of social support to smoking cessation and continued abstinence of 3923 men and women with mild to moderate airway obstruction in the Lung Health Study. At both the end of a 12-week group program and after 1 year, men but not women who were supported in quitting were more likely to be successful. Married status facilitated quitting but was less strongly related to long-term abstinence. Participants supported by an ex-smoker who had attended the group program with them were very likely not smoking after 1 year (men, 74.7%; women, 72.4%). Participants supported by a smoker were less than half as likely to have achieved abstinence after 1 year but still had cessation rates greater than 30%. The nature of these relationships has implications for the distinction between women and men in studies of social support and for intervention strategies. Support people should be included in cessation intervention programs. Spouse involvement, however, is more evidently useful for men than for women.
A meta-analysis of self-help treatment approaches
1993, Clinical Psychology Review
We conducted a meta-analysis of 40 self-help studies examining 61 treatments which used as control groups no-treatment, wait-list, or placebo comparisons. We found an overall treatment effect size for self-help interventions of 0.76 at posttreatment and an effect size of 0.53 at follow-up. Studies that used a more stringent control group — placebo — had a lower mean effect size than studies utilizing a no-treatment control. No differences were found for unadulterated self-help treatments and those with minimal contact from a therapist or which were in fact therapist-assisted. Some target problems were more amenable to self-help approaches, including skills deficits and diagnostic problems, such as fears, depression, headache, and sleep disturbance. Habit disturbances such as smoking, drinking, and overeating, were less amenable to self-help treatments. Compliance with the treatment regimen was found to improve treatment effects. While effect size was negatively related to duration of treatment, this effect was largely a function of duration being confounded with type of problem. Results were examined from the perspective of problems that are targetable with self-help approaches. Recommendations for improvements in research design for future studies are also made.
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^*: This research was based on the dissertation of the first author completed under the direction of the second author. Portions of this work were presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, Los Angeles, CA, August 1985

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Couples who smoke: A comparison of couples training versus individual training for smoking cessation*

Behavior Research and Therapy

Behavior Therapy

Behavior Therapy

Couples training, pharmacotherapy, and behavior therapy in the treatment of obesity

Archives of General Psychiatry

A handbook of self-control procedures for cigarette smokers

JSAS Catalog of Selected Documents in Psychology

Partner support and other determinants of smoking cessation maintenance among women

Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology

Rapid smoking and self-control in the modification of smoking behavior

Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology

The role of social support in adherence to stressful decisions

American Psychologist