Causes of smoking relapse in the 12 months after smoking cessation treatment: Affective and cigarette dependence-related factors

Abstract

Despite advances in smoking cessation treatments, smoking relapse remains common. Experiencing positive or negative affect and cigarette dependence are the most common causes of relapse; however, little is known about the characteristics that increase the risk of relapse from these causes among current treatment-seeking smokers. Thus, this study aimed to identify the most frequent causes of relapse and the individual characteristics that increase the risk of relapse from these causes during a 12-month period after smoking cessation. Participants included 121 treatment-seeking smokers who quit smoking at the end of treatment and relapsed during a 12-month follow-up period (60.3% female;Mage = 42.57, SD = 11.07). Results indicated that the most frequent smoking relapse situations occurred when smokers experienced positive (e.g., being relaxed; 43.0%) or negative (e.g., being angry; 37.2%) affect or cigarette dependence-related situations (e.g., craving; 19.8%). At an individual level, males with a higher level of education and without a psychopharmaceutical prescription had a higher risk of relapsing in positive-affect situations. Smoking the first cigarette at an older age increased the risk of relapse in negative-affect situations. Finally, being younger and less motivated to quit at pretreatment increased the likelihood of relapse in cigarette dependence-related situations. These findings provide detailed information about smoking relapse situations and identify a set of characteristics that might help to improve current relapse-prevention interventions.

Keywords: Cigarette dependence; Positive and negative affect; Relapse causes; Smoking cessation treatment.