INDIVIDUAL-DIFFERENCES IN SELF-CONCEPT AMONG SMOKERS ATTEMPTING TO QUIT - VALIDATION AND PREDICTIVE UTILITY OF MEASURES OF THE SMOKER SELF-CONCEPT AND ABSTAINER SELF-CONCEPT

We tested a theoretical model of individual differences in smoking ces sation using a social-cognitive conception of the self-concept. We dev eloped and validated measures of the smoker self-concept and the absta iner self-concept. Each scale was shown to have good internal reliabil ity and construct validity and was distinct from other important predi ctive measures used in smoking research (e.g. Fagerstrom Tolerance Que stionnaire, smoking rate, motivation, self-efficacy). Importantly, we demonstrated the predictive validity of the self-concept scales. The i nteraction of baseline measures of the smoker self-concept and abstain er self-concept predicted smoking status three months after treatment; subjects were most likely to be abstinent if they began treatment wit h a strong abstainer self-concept and a weak smoker self-concept. This interaction held over and above baseline smoking rate, Fagerstrom Tol erance scores, and measures of motivation and self-efficacy to quit. T he utility of social-cognitive individual difference models and potent ial patient-treatment matching interventions are discussed.