Craving and readiness to change tobacco-dependent young adult women

Abstract

The objective of this research was to analyze tobacco craving in young adult females in order to verify if there is any association between this and the stages of change. The design was experimental, and the participants, 20 to 40 year-olds, were distributed at random, in zero (n = 30) to 60 minutes (n = 30) of tobacco abstinence groups. The Instruments used were: Social and Demographic Data Form, Questionnaire of Smoking Urges Brief (QSU-B), Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence and University of Rhode Island Change Assessment Scale. It has been observed the following correlations (p < 0,005): Pre-Contemplation and total score at QSU-B (r = 0,465); Pre-Contemplation and Factor 2 (r = 0,485); and Maintenance and Factor 2 (r = 0,385). It has been concluded that, while females in Pre-Contemplation showed craving global increase, strongly influenced by tobacco negative reinforcement, the ones in the Maintenance stage had only an increasing craving associated to negative reinforcement. This information is very useful to select the treatment to such patients.