GENDER AND SMOKING CESSATION - A FACTOR STRUCTURE COMPARISON OF PROCESSES OF CHANGE

This study examined gender differences in the pattern of process use f or smoking cessation using the Processes of Change Questionnaire (J. O . Prochaska, W. F. Velicer, C. C. DiCiemente, & J. Fava, 1988). The go als were (a) to determine the degree to which the covariance structure of the Processes of Change Questionnaire is invariant across gender, (b) to test the existence of the theoretical 2-factor process model us ing confirmatory factor analysis, and (c) to explore mean differences, if found, in the use of the 10 processes of change across 4 stages of change (precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, and action). Th e sample (N = 516) had an equal distribution of men and women across t he stages of change. Results demonstrated that the structure of the me asure for men and women was invariant at the level of the variance-cov ariance matrices and that the hypothesized 2-factor model fit the data . Only stage of change predicted the experiential and behavioral proce ss factors.