Abstract

Objective

Smoking stigmatization has been shown to hinder cigarette smoking cessation, especially among individuals with a strong smoker identity. Self-affirmation, a psychological threat-management coping strategy, can promote smoking cessation, and may mitigate the adverse consequences of stigmatization.

Design

Data from an online sample of 1,020 U.S. adult smokers were analyzed using multiple linear regression.

Main Outcome Measures

Participants completed a self-affirmation (or no-affirmation control) writing task before viewing a smoking stigma (or non-stigma control) anti-smoking public service announcement video. Participants then reported smoking-related cognitions and behavioral intentions.

Results

Among participants with strong—but not weak—ties to a smoker identity (smoking self-concept), self-affirming led to higher quit intentions compared to the control condition. Among participants with weak—but not strong—smoking self-concepts, those who self-affirmed had lower intentions to switch completely to e-cigarettes relative to the control condition. Exposure to stigmatization reduced intentions to seek cessation counseling, particularly among those with weak smoking self-concepts.

Conclusion

Findings demonstrate the critical role that smoking identity centrality plays in moderating reactions to both affirming and stigmatizing stimuli. Additional research is needed to better understand how self-affirmation and stigma-reduction interventions can be tailored and implemented in natural contexts.

中文翻译：

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吸烟自我概念调节自我肯定对吸烟相关信念和行为意图的影响

摘要

客观的

吸烟污名化已被证明会阻碍戒烟，尤其是在具有强烈吸烟者身份的个人中。自我肯定是一种心理威胁管理应对策略，可以促进戒烟，并可能减轻污名化的不利后果。

设计

使用多元线性回归分析了来自 1,020 名美国成年吸烟者的在线样本的数据。

主要观察指标

参与者在观看吸烟污名（或非污名控制）反吸烟公共服务公告视频之前完成了自我肯定（或不肯定控制）的写作任务。然后参与者报告了与吸烟相关的认知和行为意图。

结果

在与吸烟者身份（吸烟自我概念）有强烈但不弱联系的参与者中，与对照条件相比，自我肯定导致更高的戒烟意图。在吸烟自我概念较弱但不强烈的参与者中，与对照组相比，自我肯定的参与者完全转向电子烟的意愿较低。遭受污名化会降低寻求戒烟咨询的意愿，尤其是在吸烟自我概念较弱的人群中。

结论

研究结果表明，吸烟身份中心性在缓和对肯定和污名刺激的反应方面发挥着关键作用。需要更多的研究来更好地了解如何在自然环境中定制和实施自我肯定和减少污名化干预措施。