Life Stress, Weight Gain, and Resuming Smoking after Success in a Cessation Clinic

Abstract

To determine how important life stresses and weight gain may be as reasons for resuming smoking, 89 subjects who had stopped smoking in cessation clinics answered follow-up telephone interviews 3 mo. later. Although many relapsers claimed that their return to cigarette use was in response to external pressure, as a group they had no more changes on the Life Change Inventory than those remaining stopped. Weight gain, reported by most of the subjects, was not a significant reason given for resuming smoking. Caution is urged in interpreting stated reasons for return to cigarette use since many seem to be guilt-reducing justifications for succumbing to intense cravings to smoke.