SELF-CONCEPT CHANGES OVER TIME IN COGNITIVE-BEHAVIORAL TREATMENT FOR SMOKING CESSATION

A smoker self-concept and an abstainer self-concept are individual dif ference variables that have been shown to predict smoking cessation. W e examined whether these self-concept constructs changed as a function of participating in a clinic-based smoking cessation program and, spe cifically, whether these changes occurred differentially between postt reatment smokers and abstainers. Subjects completed the Smoker Self-co ncept scale and the Abstainer Self-concept scale at three time points: pretreatment, posttreatment, and 3 months' posttreatment. Smoking sta tus was assessed and biochemically verified directly after quit day an d 3 months' posttreatment. Results indicated that abstainers' smoker s elf-concept decreased more precipitously over time compared to smokers '. Abstainers showed consistent increases over time in their abstainer self-concept, and smokers showed increases followed by decreases to p retreatment levels. Clinical implications are discussed.