How important are parents and partners for smoking cessation in adulthood? An event history analysis.

Journal article

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to assess the effect of parental and partner's education and smoking behavior on an individual's chance of smoking cessation over the life course. METHODS: Self-reported life histories of smoking behavior, education, and relationships were recorded in face-to-face interviews with a random general-population sample of 850 respondents and their partners (if present). The data were collected in 2000. A discrete-time event history model is applied in the analyses of cessation over the life course. RESULTS: Parents' education and smoking behavior (during adolescence) and partners' education have no significant influence on cessation. Living with an ex-smoker or never-smoker increases the likelihood of quitting, compared to being single or living with a partner who smokes. Respondents whose partners were ex-smokers are almost five times more likely to quit smoking than single respondents. They are almost twice as likely to quit compared to those living with a never-smoker. CONCLUSIONS: The difference between having and not having a partner seems as important for cessation as the difference between having a partner who smokes, has never smoked, or has stopped smoking. An ex-smoking partner stimulates cessation more than a partner who has never smoked. Studies into cessation should take into account partners' smoking histories.

Authors: Monden, C; de Graaf, N; Kraaykamp, G

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: Preventive medicine
• Volume: 36
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 197-203
• Publication date: 2003-02-01
• DOI: 10.1016/s0091-7435(02)00026-9
• EISSN: 1096-0260
• ISSN: 0091-7435
• Language: English
• Keywords: Marital Status; Middle Aged; Netherlands; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Adult; Parents; Humans; Smoking Cessation; Female; Educational Status