Anxiety, depression and smoking cessation success

Tobacco use is a widespread addiction and severely threatens the public health. This study uses data of the LiveSmokeFree study (N= 344), generated by the Medisch Spectrum Twente in Enschede. The aim of the study was to establish links between anxiety, depression, and smoking cessation success. The connections between depression as well as anxiety and smoking cessation success were determined by including the moderators social support and self-efficacy. On a sample of individuals, aged 16 to 77 years old and participating in a smoking cessation treatment, the variables were measured. The results show a non-significant relationship between anxiety as well as depression and smoking cessation success. However, smoking cessation success or abstinence is related with reduction in anxiety and depression symptoms afterwards. In addition, social support, self-efficacy after smoking cessation treatment, and social modelling significantly predict smoking cessation success. Accordingly, social support and self-efficacy positively predict abstinence. Social modelling, on the other hand, negatively predicts abstinence. Keywords: smoking cessation, anxiety, depression, addiction, social determinants, self-efficacy