EXAMINING OUTCOME EXPECTANCIES FOR SMOKING VS. ABSTINENCE AMONG ADULT DAILY SMOKERS

Motivational interviewing theory (DiClemente et al., 1991) suggests that when making a decision, we consider the possible outcomes for both a primary choice and an alternative choice. The decision to quit smoking is thus influenced by quit expectancies and smoking expectancies. While smoking expectancies have been emphasized in past research, less attention has been paid to abstinence expectancies. The present study examined the predictive utility of smoking and abstinence expectancies together for smoking motivation and behavior at baseline and one-month follow-up. Outcomes included motivation to quit, contemplation status, and average daily smoking rate. Data was collected for 211 adult daily smokers at baseline and 187 at follow-up. Baseline positive and negative smoking expectancies, as well as positive abstinence expectancies, uniquely predicted concurrent motivation to quit and contemplation status. There was no relation between baseline expectancies and smoking rate, nor did baseline expectancies predict outcomes at one-month follow-up.