Smoking cessation and financial stress
Mohammad Siahpush, Professor1,
Matt Spittal, Dr2
Gopal K. Singh, Dr3
1 Department of Health Promotion, Social and Behavioral Health Sciences, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 986075 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-6075, USA
2 Centre for Behavioural Research in Cancer, The Cancer Council Victoria, 100 Drummond Street, Carlton 3053, Victoria, Australia
3 Maternal and Child Health Bureau, HRSA, US Department of Health and Human Services, 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 18-41, Rockville, MD 20857, USA
Address correspondence to M. Siahpush, E-mail: msiahpush{at}unmc.edu
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Abstract |
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Background Research on the financial consequences of quitting smoking is scant. We examined the association of smoking cessation with the subsequent likelihood of experiencing financial stress.
Methods Data came from Waves 1, 2 and 3 (2001–04) of the Household Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia survey. The size of the subsample of smokers in Wave 1 who also participated in Waves 2 and 3 was 1747. We compared respondents who reported to have been a smoker in all three waves with those who were smokers only in Wave 1. Eight questionnaire items were used to construct a binary financial stress indicator.
Results The odds of experiencing financial stress in Wave 3 were 42% (95% CI: 6–74%; P = 0.028) smaller for quitters than for continued smokers.
Conclusions Interventions to encourage smoking cessation among disadvantaged groups are likely to enhance their material conditions and standards of living, and to reduce socio-economic disparities in mortality.
Keywords: Australia, financial stress, smoking cessation