Abstract
Methods
We used longitudinal data from a smoking cessation study. A total of 513 smokers completed the Smoking Abstinence Self-efficacy
Questionnaire (SASEQ) and questionnaires assessing depressive symptoms and motivation to quit smoking. After that, they set
a quit date and attempted to stop smoking. One year after the quit date, smoking status of participants was assessed by self
report. The psychometric properties of the SASEQ were studied and we investigated whether SASEQ scores predicted successful
smoking cessation.
Questionnaire (SASEQ) and questionnaires assessing depressive symptoms and motivation to quit smoking. After that, they set
a quit date and attempted to stop smoking. One year after the quit date, smoking status of participants was assessed by self
report. The psychometric properties of the SASEQ were studied and we investigated whether SASEQ scores predicted successful
smoking cessation.
Results
Factor analysis yielded one factor, with an Eigenvalue of 3.83, explaining 64% of variance. All factor loadings were ≥0.73.
We found a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.89 for the SASEQ, low correlations for the SASEQ with depressive symptoms, and motivation
to quit, indicating that self-efficacy is measured independently of these concepts. Furthermore, high baseline SASEQ scores
significantly predicted smoking abstinence at 52 weeks after the quit date (OR = 1.85; 95% CI = 1.20~2.84).
We found a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.89 for the SASEQ, low correlations for the SASEQ with depressive symptoms, and motivation
to quit, indicating that self-efficacy is measured independently of these concepts. Furthermore, high baseline SASEQ scores
significantly predicted smoking abstinence at 52 weeks after the quit date (OR = 1.85; 95% CI = 1.20~2.84).
Conclusions
The SASEQ appeared to be a short, reliable, and valid questionnaire to assess self-efficacy beliefs regarding smoking abstinence.
In the present study, this instrument also had good predictive validity. The short SASEQ can easily be used in busy clinical
practice to guide smoking cessation interventions.
In the present study, this instrument also had good predictive validity. The short SASEQ can easily be used in busy clinical
practice to guide smoking cessation interventions.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-6
- DOI 10.1007/s12529-012-9229-2
- Authors
- Viola Spek, Centre of Research on Psychology in Somatic diseases (CoRPS), Tilburg University, Tilburg, the Netherlands
- Fieke Lemmens, Department of Medical Psychology, Máxima Medical Centre Veldhoven, Veldhoven, the Netherlands
- Marlène Chatrou, Department of Medical Psychology, Máxima Medical Centre Veldhoven, Veldhoven, the Netherlands
- Suzanne van Kempen, Department of Medical Psychology, Máxima Medical Centre Veldhoven, Veldhoven, the Netherlands
- François Pouwer, Centre of Research on Psychology in Somatic diseases (CoRPS), Tilburg University, Tilburg, the Netherlands
- Victor Pop, Centre of Research on Psychology in Somatic diseases (CoRPS), Tilburg University, Tilburg, the Netherlands
- Journal International Journal of Behavioral Medicine
- Online ISSN 1532-7558
- Print ISSN 1070-5503