AGE AND STAGE OF READINESS FOR SMOKING CESSATION

Using the 1992 National Health Interview Survey Cancer Control Supplem ent, relationships were analyzed between stage of readiness for smokin g cessation and background characteristics, smoking behaviors, and smo king-related attitudes among smokers aged 18-29, 30-49, and greater th an or equal to 50 years. For each age group, and ordinal logistic regr ession model was computed to identify correlates of readiness to quit. The youngest smokers had attitudes most favorable to being ready to t ry to quit smoking. For smokers aged 30-49, the influence of a medical provider and perceived health effects of smoking were important corre lates of readiness. Among smokers 50 and older, those with realistic h ealth consequences of smoking and those who perceived smoking as addic tive were more likely to be ready to quit. The effectiveness of smokin g cessation programs might be improved by matching interventions to a smoker's age and stage in the smoking cessation process.