Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Kinsey Pebley

Date

2022

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Department

Psychology

Committee Chair

James Murphy

Committee Member

Rebecca A Krukowski

Committee Member

Kenneth Ward

Committee Member

Nicholas Simon

Abstract

Smoking is dangerous to health in general, but poses increased unique risks to the health of individuals diagnosed with cancer. Despite numerous trials aimed at increasing smoking cessation among individuals with cancer, few have been successful and cessation rates remain low. The current study aimed to assess differences between former and continued smokers with and without cancer to identify unique considerations to be addressed in future cessation interventions with individuals diagnosed with cancer. Participants (N = 203) completed an online survey about demographic characteristics, cigarette use, depression, anxiety, social support, barriers to quitting, and cessation resource use (e.g., nicotine patches). Results indicated that current smokers with cancer had higher depression, anxiety, perceived stress, and cancer-related stress scores, and were more likely to live with someone who smoked compared to former smokers with cancer. Additionally, former smokers with cancer were more likely to not have health insurance than former smokers without cancer. Lastly, current smokers with cancer were older, had higher anxiety scores, and reported more challenges to stopping smoking than current smokers without cancer. Thus, there may be specific considerations that need to be addressed when working with individuals with cancer trying to quit smoking. The current study may help to inform future cancer-specific cessation intervention development in order to improve cessation rates and health outcomes.

Comments

Data is provided by the student.

Library Comment

Dissertation or thesis originally submitted to ProQuest.

Notes

Open access

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