Quitting smoking after a cancer diagnosis is associated with reductions in stigma and anxiety: A longitudinal mediation analysis Journal Article
| Authors: | Williamson, T. J.; Park, E. R.; Warner, E. T.; Rasmussen, A. W.; Ostroff, J. S. |
| Article Title: | Quitting smoking after a cancer diagnosis is associated with reductions in stigma and anxiety: A longitudinal mediation analysis |
| Abstract: | Internalized cancer stigma is high among cancer patients who smoke, but it is unknown whether the experience of stigma changes after quitting smoking postdiagnosis. Using data from an randomized controlled trial of tobacco treatment, we conducted a secondary data analysis and hypothesized that (a) cancer patients who quit smoking would report greater reductions in internalized cancer stigma, compared to patients who did not quit and that (b) greater reductions in stigma would significantly mediate the relationship between smoking abstinence and subsequent decreases in anxiety and depressive symptoms. Participants (n = 303; 56.1% female) were adults recruited from two comprehensive cancer centers who had smoked in the past 30 days, spoke English or Spanish, and were being treated for a recent diagnosis of cancer. Participants completed questionnaires at baseline, 3-month follow-up, and 6-month follow-up, and biochemically verified smoking abstinence was determined by participants' salivary cotinine or carbon monoxide levels. Smoking abstinence at 3-month follow-up was significantly associated with reductions in cancer-related stigma from baseline to 3-month follow-up (b = -1.50, p < .001), controlling for sociodemographic and medical covariates. Additionally, reductions in stigma were associated with reductions in anxiety at 6-month follow-up (b = 0.28, p < .05), but not depressive symptoms. Reductions in stigma significantly mediated the relationship between smoking abstinence and decreased anxiety (indirect effect = -0.42, p < .05), but not depressive symptoms. Smoking cessation may be associated with reduction in internalized cancer stigma. Thus, in addition to benefits for medical outcomes, quitting smoking postdiagnosis may improve psychosocial well-being. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved) Impact Statement This study suggests that quitting smoking postdiagnosis may be linked to reductions in internalized stigma among patients recently diagnosed with cancer. Additionally, reductions in internalized stigma were associated with subsequent reductions in anxiety. Taken together, these findings suggest that in addition to well-established benefits for medical and physical health outcomes, quitting smoking after a cancer diagnosis may improve patients' psychosocial well-being. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved) |
| Keywords: | smoking cessation; anxiety; stigma; depressive symptoms; longitudinal |
| Journal Title: | Stigma and Health |
| Volume: | 10 |
| Issue: | 1 |
| ISSN: | 2376-6972 |
| Publisher: | Educational Publishing Foundation American Psychological Assoc |
| Date Published: | 2025-02-01 |
| Start Page: | 73 |
| End Page: | 82 |
| Language: | English |
| ACCESSION: | 2023-93159-001 |
| DOI: | 10.1037/sah0000461 |
| PROVIDER: | Ovid Technologies |
| PROVIDER: | psycinfo |
| PMCID: | PMC11867195 |
| PUBMED: | 40026684 |
| DOI/URL: | |
| Notes: | The MSK Cancer Center Support Grant (P30 CA008748) is acknowledged in the PDF - Source: APA PsycInfo |
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