Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: Previous research on online health communities found positive health benefits for participants. This paper accessed engagement and social support among members of smoking cessation online communities, hypothesizing that perceived social support would be correlated positively with participation and smoking cessation self-efficacy, and also mediate the relationship. Posters and lurkers would also differ significantly in perceived social support and self-efficacy. Data gathered from smoking cessation online communities confirmed these hypotheses. Implications for future research are discussed.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: The operationalization of social influence in the theory of planned behavior is very limited. Only the perception is measured whether important others would approve or disapprove it if a person performs a certain behavior. However, more types of social influence can be discerned and it is hypothesized that the conceptualization of the social factor should be broadened. This study brings together the fragmentary knowledge on social influence factors related to smoking cessation. An inventory of social influence variables shows six social influence factors. With the exception of descriptive norm, most of these are rarely studied in the context of smoking cessation. Regression analyses on the data of 1,107 smokers is used to estimate the relative importance of social influence variables as predictors of intention and smoking cessation behavior. The regression analysis show that the subjective norm is not the most important social influence variable. It has more effect if other people tell a smoker to quit. The effect of the injunctive norm, that is the perceived acceptability of smoking in society, is similar to the effect of the subjective norm. Results suggest that health campaigns should incite social interaction between smokers and non-smokers. Also, studies into smoking cessation should take account of the various social influence factors that are outlined in this study.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: The operationalization of social influence in the theory of planned behavior is very limited. Only the perception is measured whether important others would approve or disapprove it if a person performs a certain behavior. However, more types of social influence can be discerned and it is hypothesized that the conceptualization of the social factor should be broadened. A typology of social influences on smoking cessation is outlined and is tested on 2,703 Dutch smokers. This study shows that several social factors influence the intention to quit smoking. These effects are not completely mediated by the variables of the theory of planned behavior. The consequences for health campaign strategies are described. Most likely, the same holds for other behaviors as well, but the relative importance of the various social influences varies dependent on the behavior and population under study.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: This study explores the combined effect of message framing, intention to quit smoking, and nicotine dependence on the persuasiveness of smoking cessation messages. In two separate waves, pre- and post-message measures, assessing quitting intention and perceived behavioral control, were taken from current cigarette smokers (N = 151), with varying levels of nicotine dependence. The messages emphasized either benefits of quitting (positive frame), or cost of not quitting (negative frame). Results show that smokers’ intentions to quit smoking and nicotine dependence jointly influence the persuasiveness of positive and negative message frames. When nicotine dependence and quitting intention are both high, a negative frame works best. Conversely, when nicotine dependence or quitting intention is low, a positive frame is preferable. Smokers’ level of processing is proposed as the underlying mechanism explaining this differential effect of message frames.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: Objective: To evaluate the impact of driving cessation on social integration and social support from relatives and friends among community-dwelling older adults.
Methods: Social integration (number and frequency of contact with relatives/friends), perceived social support, and driving status were assessed during the 1993/6 and 2004/5 interviews of the population-based Baltimore Epidemiologic Catchment Area Study. Repeated-measures random-intercept models were used to evaluate the effect of driving cessation on change in social network characteristics over time. Analyses were restricted to participants age 60+ who had ever driven an automobile (n = 398) and were adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics, mini-mental status exam (MMSE) score, household composition, self-rated health, and ability to use public transportation.
Results: Former drivers were older, more likely to be female and non-white, had less education, poorer self-rated health, and lower MMSE scores relative to continuing drivers. In cross-sectional analyses, driving cessation was associated with a smaller network of friends (OR: 0.55, p<0.05) and decreased contact frequency (OR: 2.71, p<0.05) with relatives. Longitudinally, cessation was associated with reduced network of friends (OR: 0.49, p<0.05). Cessation had no impact on perceived support in either cross-sectional or longitudinal analyses.
Conclusions: Driving cessation negatively impacts social integration among older adults, especially among friends.