Skip to content
2000
  1. Home
  2. A-Z Publications
  3. Current Psychiatry Research and Reviews
  4. Volume 21, Issue 1
  5. Article
Volume 21, Issue 1
  • ISSN: 2666-0822
  • E-ISSN: 2666-0830

Abstract

Background

Smokers’ expectancies about abstinence, that is the effects that smokers anticipate when they attempt to quit smoking, remain understudied. The aim of the present study was to examine the relation between smoking abstinence expectations and subjective experience over time among individuals in smoking cessation treatment.

Methods

A total of 215 adult smokers seeking treatment at two Italian third-level outpatient facilities were assessed at baseline and three-time points after the quit day (QD): 7 days, and 1 and 3 months. The following self-report instruments were administered: the Smoking Abstinence Expectancies Questionnaire (SAEQ), as a baseline measure of expectancies before quitting; the SAEQ-past, for assessing the actual occurrence of symptoms that were expected; the Minnesota Nicotine Withdrawal Scale, as a measure of withdrawal symptoms post-quitting.

Results

One and 3 months after the QD, participants reported fewer negative abstinence symptoms than expected, except for somatic symptoms, and fewer positive consequences than expected. A mismatch between smoking abstinence expectations and actual post-quitting experiences was found, thus expectancies were violated.

Conclusion

The present findings confirm the need to assess both abstinence expectancies and actual post-quitting experiences. Future studies should examine tailored interventions aimed at educating smokers about expectancies and post-quitting experiences.

© 2025 Bentham Science Publishers
Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journals/cprr/10.2174/0126660822244807231025082644
2025-02-01
2024-11-15

  • From This Site

    /content/journals/cprr/10.2174/0126660822244807231025082644
    dcterms_title,dcterms_subject,pub_keyword
    -contentType:Contributor -contentType:Concept -contentType:Institution
    10
    5
Loading full text...

Full text loading...

References

  1. BanduraA. Self-efficacy: Toward a unifying theory of behavioral change.Psychol. Rev.197784219121510.1037/0033‑295X.84.2.191 847061
     [Google Scholar]
  2. RiefW. GlombiewskiJ.A. GollwitzerM. SchuböA. SchwartingR. ThorwartA. Expectancies as core features of mental disorders.Curr. Opin. Psychiatry201528537838510.1097/YCO.0000000000000184 26164612
     [Google Scholar]
  3. GilbertH.M. WarburtonD.M. Individual variation in psychological and psychomotor symptoms following smoking cessation: The implications for treatment.Psychol. Health200318561362410.1080/0887044032000069892
     [Google Scholar]
  4. DarleyJ.M. FazioR.H. Expectancy confirmation processes arising in the social interaction sequence.Am. Psychol.1980351086788110.1037/0003‑066X.35.10.867
     [Google Scholar]
  5. TruszS. BąbelP. Interpersonal and intrapersonal expectancies.LondonRoutledge201610.4324/9781315652535
     [Google Scholar]
  6. HendricksP.S. BrandonT.H. Smokers’ expectancies for smoking versus nicotine.Psychol. Addict. Behav.200822113514010.1037/0893‑164X.22.1.135 18298240
     [Google Scholar]
  7. CohenL.M. McCarthyD.M. BrownS.A. MyersM.G. Negative affect combines with smoking outcome expectancies to predict smoking behavior over time.Psychol. Addict. Behav.2002162919710.1037/0893‑164X.16.2.91 12079260
     [Google Scholar]
  8. WetterD.W. YoungT.B. BidwellT.R. BadrM.S. PaltaM. Smoking as a risk factor for sleep-disordered breathing.Arch. Intern. Med.1994154192219222410.1001/archinte.1994.00420190121014 7944843
     [Google Scholar]
  9. HendricksP.S. WoodS.B. HallS.M. Smokers’ expectancies for abstinence: Preliminary results from focus groups.Psychol. Addict. Behav.200923238038510.1037/a0015697 19586157
     [Google Scholar]
  10. BrandonT.H. JulianoL.M. CopelandA.L. Expectancies for tobacco smoking.How expectancies shape experience. KirschI. American Psychological Association199926329910.1037/10332‑011
     [Google Scholar]
  11. KaufmannA. MalloyE.J. HaagaD.A.F. Examining outcome expectancies for smoking vs. abstinence among adult daily smokers.Addict. Behav.202010210614010.1016/j.addbeh.2019.106140 31706142
     [Google Scholar]
  12. McKeeS.A. O’MalleyS.S. SaloveyP. Krishnan-SarinS. MazureC.M. Perceived risks and benefits of smoking cessation: Gender-specific predictors of motivation and treatment outcome.Addict. Behav.200530342343510.1016/j.addbeh.2004.05.027 15718060
     [Google Scholar]
  13. HendricksP.S. WoodS.B. BakerM.R. DelucchiK.L. HallS.M. The smoking abstinence questionnaire: Measurement of smokers’ abstinence-related expectancies.Addiction2011106471672810.1111/j.1360‑0443.2010.03338.x 21205053
     [Google Scholar]
  14. AbramsK. ZvolenskyM.J. DormanL. GonzalezA. MayerM. Development and validation of the smoking abstinence expectancies questionnaire.Nicotine Tob. Res.201113121296130410.1093/ntr/ntr184 21994341
     [Google Scholar]
  15. TateJ.C. StantonA.L. GreenS.B. SchmitzJ.M. LeT. MarshallB. Experimental analysis of the role of expectancy in nicotine withdrawal.Psychol. Addict. Behav.19948316917810.1037/0893‑164X.8.3.169
     [Google Scholar]
  16. HendricksP.S. LeventhalA.M. Abstinence-related expectancies predict smoking withdrawal effects: Implications for possible causal mechanisms.Psychopharmacology2013230336337310.1007/s00213‑013‑3169‑7 23812761
     [Google Scholar]
  17. HendricksP.S. WestmaasJ.L. Ta ParkV.M. Smoking abstinence-related expectancies among American Indians, African Americans, and women: Potential mechanisms of tobacco-related disparities.Psychol. Addict. Behav.201428119320510.1037/a0031938 23528192
     [Google Scholar]
  18. TateJ.C. SchmitzJ.M. StantonA.L. A critical review of the reasons for smoking scale.J. Subst. Abuse19913444145510.1016/S0899‑3289(10)80025‑2 1821297
     [Google Scholar]
  19. LewinA.B. PerisT.S. Lindsey BergmanR. McCrackenJ.T. PiacentiniJ. The role of treatment expectancy in youth receiving exposure-based CBT for obsessive compulsive disorder.Behav. Res. Ther.201149953654310.1016/j.brat.2011.06.001 21723534
     [Google Scholar]
  20. BrownC.A. El-DeredyW. JonesA.K.P. When the brain expects pain: Common neural responses to pain anticipation are related to clinical pain and distress in fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis.Eur. J. Neurosci.201439466367210.1111/ejn.12420 24219587
     [Google Scholar]
  21. HeathertonT.F. KozlowskiL.T. FreckerR.C. FagerströmK.O. The fagerström test for nicotine dependence: A revision of the fagerstrom tolerance questionnaire.Addiction19918691119112710.1111/j.1360‑0443.1991.tb01879.x 1932883
     [Google Scholar]
  22. FekketichA.K. FossatiR. ApoloneG. An evaluation of the italian version of the fagerström test for nicotine dependence.Psychol. Rep.2008102368769410.2466/pr0.102.3.687‑694 18763437
     [Google Scholar]
  23. SvicherA. CosciF. GianniniM. PistelliF. FagerströmK. Item response theory analysis of fagerström test for cigarette dependence.Addict. Behav.201877384610.1016/j.addbeh.2017.09.005 28950117
     [Google Scholar]
  24. SvicherA. ZvolenskyM.J. CosciF. The smoking abstinence expectancies questionnaire—Italian version: Analysis of psychometric properties.J. Addict. Dis.2017361808710.1080/10550887.2016.1251732 27782790
     [Google Scholar]
  25. HughesJ.R. Background on the Minnesota Tobacco Withdrawal Scale-Revised- MTWS-R.2017Available from: http://contentmanager.med.uvm.edu/docs/background/behavior-andhealth-documents/background.pdf?sfvrsn=2 (Accessed October 2021)
     [Google Scholar]
  26. SvicherA. BeghèA. MangiaracinaG. CosciF. Factor analysis and psychometric properties of the Minnesota nicotine withdrawal scale and the Minnesota nicotine withdrawal scale-revised: Italian version.Eur. Addict. Res.201723315716210.1159/000477491 28641297
     [Google Scholar]
  27. FarrisS.G. LangdonK.J. DiBelloA.M. ZvolenskyM.J. Why do anxiety sensitive smokers perceive quitting as difficult? The role of expecting “interoceptive threat” during acute abstinence.Cognit. Ther. Res.201539223624410.1007/s10608‑014‑9644‑6
     [Google Scholar]
  28. FarrisS.G. PaulusD.J. GonzalezA. Anxiety sensitivity mediates the association between post-traumatic stress symptom severity and interoceptive threat-related smoking abstinence expectancies among World Trade Center disaster-exposed smokers.Addict. Behav.20155120421010.1016/j.addbeh.2015.07.031 26298644
     [Google Scholar]
  29. KauffmanB.Y. FarrisS.G. AlfanoC.A. ZvolenskyM.J. Emotion dysregulation explains the relation between insomnia symptoms and negative reinforcement smoking cognitions among daily smokers.Addict. Behav.201772334010.1016/j.addbeh.2017.03.011 28359971
     [Google Scholar]
  30. ZvolenskyM.J. PaulusD.J. LangdonK.J. Anxiety sensitivity explains associations between anxious arousal symptoms and smoking abstinence expectancies, perceived barriers to cessation, and problems experienced during past quit attempts among low-income smokers.J. Anxiety Disord.201748707710.1016/j.janxdis.2016.12.003 28024913
     [Google Scholar]
  31. MansuetoG. CarrozzinoD. Sparle ChristensenK. Clinimetric properties of the smoking abstinence expectancies questionnaire.Addict. Behav.202112310706110.1016/j.addbeh.2021.107061 34359015
     [Google Scholar]
  32. SchaferJ.L. GrahamJ.W. Missing data: Our view of the state of the art.Psychol. Methods20027214717710.1037/1082‑989X.7.2.147 12090408
     [Google Scholar]
  33. ChiorriC. Teoria e tecnica psicometrica.MilanoMcGraw-Hill2011
     [Google Scholar]
  34. DanceyC. ReidyJ. Statistics without Maths for Psychology:Using SPSS for Windows.3rd edEnglandPearson Education Limited2004
     [Google Scholar]
  35. KirschI. Response expectancy as a determinant of experience and behavior.Am. Psychol.198540111189120210.1037/0003‑066X.40.11.1189
     [Google Scholar]
  36. KirschI. Response expectancy theory and application: A decennial review.Appl. Prev. Psychol.199762697910.1016/S0962‑1849(05)80012‑5
     [Google Scholar]
  37. ChapmanS. Stop-smoking clinics: A case for their abandonment.Lancet1985325843491892010.1016/S0140‑6736(85)91685‑X 2858756
     [Google Scholar]
  38. DaltonM.A. SargentJ.D. BeachM.L. BernhardtA.M. StevensM. Positive and negative outcome expectations of smoking: Implications for prevention.Prev. Med.199929646046510.1006/pmed.1999.0582 10600426
     [Google Scholar]
  39. LiL. BorlandR. YongH.H. Predictors of smoking cessation among adult smokers in Malaysia and Thailand: Findings from the International Tobacco Control Southeast Asia Survey.Nicotine Tob. Res.201012Suppl. 1S34S4410.1093/ntr/ntq030 20889478
     [Google Scholar]
  40. LiL. FengG. JiangY. YongH.H. BorlandR. FongG.T. Prospective predictors of quitting behaviours among adult smokers in six cities in China: Findings from the International Tobacco Control (ITC) China survey.Addiction201110671335134510.1111/j.1360‑0443.2011.03444.x 21438942
     [Google Scholar]
  41. PiaseckiT.M. FioreM.C. BakerT.B. Profiles in discouragement: Two studies of variability in the time course of smoking withdrawal symptoms.J. Abnorm. Psychol.1998107223825110.1037/0021‑843X.107.2.238 9604553
     [Google Scholar]
  42. HughesJ. Clinical significance of tobacco withdrawal.Nicotine Tob. Res.20068215315610.1080/14622200500494856 16766409
     [Google Scholar]
  43. CraskeM.G. TreanorM. ConwayC.C. ZbozinekT. VervlietB. Maximizing exposure therapy: An inhibitory learning approach.Behav. Res. Ther.201458102310.1016/j.brat.2014.04.006 24864005
     [Google Scholar]
  44. HerbstN. VoderholzerU. ThielN. No talking, just writing! Efficacy of an Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy with exposure and response prevention in obsessive compulsive disorder.Psychother. Psychosom.201483316517510.1159/000357570 24732962
     [Google Scholar]
  45. HedmanE. AxelssonE. GörlingA. Internet-delivered exposure-based cognitive-behavioural therapy and behavioural stress management for severe health anxiety: Randomised controlled trial.Br. J. Psychiatry2014205430731410.1192/bjp.bp.113.140913 25104835
     [Google Scholar]
  46. SpenceJ. TitovN. JohnstonL. JonesM.P. DearB.F. SolleyK. Internet-based trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy for PTSD with and without exposure components: A randomised controlled trial.J. Affect. Disord.2014162738010.1016/j.jad.2014.03.009 24767009
     [Google Scholar]
  47. DiemerJ. MühlbergerA. PauliP. ZwanzgerP. Virtual reality exposure in anxiety disorders: Impact on psychophysiological reactivity.World J. Biol. Psychiatry201415642744210.3109/15622975.2014.892632 24666248
     [Google Scholar]
  48. CarrozzinoD. PatiernoC. GuidiJ. Clinimetric criteria for patient-reported outcome measures.Psychother. Psychosom.202190422223210.1159/000516599 34038901
     [Google Scholar]
  49. CosciF. Clinimetric perspectives in clinical psychology and psychiatry.Psychother. Psychosom.202190421722110.1159/000517028 34052804
     [Google Scholar]
  50. BechP. Clinical psychometrics.ChichesterWiley-Blackwell201210.1002/9781118511800
     [Google Scholar]
  51. DeStenoD. PettyR.E. WegenerD.T. RuckerD.D. Beyond valence in the perception of likelihood: The role of emotion specificity.J. Pers. Soc. Psychol.200078339741610.1037/0022‑3514.78.3.397 10743870
     [Google Scholar]
  52. MarroquínB. Nolen-HoeksemaS. Event prediction and affective forecasting in depressive cognition: Using emotion as information about the future.J. Soc. Clin. Psychol.201534211713410.1521/jscp.2015.34.2.117 26146452
     [Google Scholar]
  53. JohnsonE.J. TverskyA. Affect, generalization, and the perception of risk.J. Pers. Soc. Psychol.1983451203110.1037/0022‑3514.45.1.20
     [Google Scholar]
  54. MayerJ.D. GaschkeY.N. BravermanD.L. EvansT.W. Mood-congruent judgment is a general effect.J. Pers. Soc. Psychol.199263111913210.1037/0022‑3514.63.1.119
     [Google Scholar]
  55. WegenerD.T. PettyR.E. KleinD.J. Effects of mood on high elaboration attitude change: The mediating role of likelihood judgments.Eur. J. Soc. Psychol.1994241254310.1002/ejsp.2420240103
     [Google Scholar]
  56. PodsakoffP.M. MacKenzieS.B. LeeJ.Y. PodsakoffN.P. Common method biases in behavioral research: A critical review of the literature and recommended remedies.J. Appl. Psychol.200388587990310.1037/0021‑9010.88.5.879 14516251
     [Google Scholar]
/content/journals/cprr/10.2174/0126660822244807231025082644
Loading
The Mismatch between Adult Smokers’ Abstinence Expectancies and Experiences at Outpatient Facilities: An Exploratory Study
Curr Psyc Res Rev 21, 53 (2025); https://doi.org/10.2174/0126660822244807231025082644
/content/journals/cprr/10.2174/0126660822244807231025082644
/content/journals/cprr/10.2174/0126660822244807231025082644
Loading

Data & Media loading...

Supplements

Supplementary material is available on the publisher's website along with the published article.

file format download Download

  • Article Type:     Research Article
Keyword(s): abstinence; actual post-quitting experiences; adult smokers; Cigarette; smoking; smoking abstinence expectations

Most Cited Most Cited RSS feed

This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was a Success
Invalid data
An Error Occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error
Please enter a valid_number test