Reasons for quitting smoking among low-income African American smokers

The psychometric characteristics of the Reasons For Quitting scale (RFQ wer e assessed among a sample of African American smokers with low income (N = 487). The intrinsic and extrinsic scales and their respective subscales wer e replicated. As hypothesized, higher levels of motivation were associated significantly, in patterns that supported the measure's construct validity, with advanced stage of readiness to quit smoking, greater perceived vulner ability to health effects of smoking, and greater social support for cessat ion. On the basis of the present study, the RFQ might best predict short-te rm cessation among older and female smokers. Refinement of the RFQ is neede d to assess intrinsic motivators other than health concerns and to identify salient motivators for young and male smokers.