A comparison of younger-aged and older-aged women in a behavioral self-control smoking program

Abstract This study examines differences in motivation for quitting smoking, withdrawal experiences and weight changes in younger and older aged women who entered a smoking cessation program designed specifically for women smokers. In an assessment prior to quitting smoking 26 women aged 20–49 years (younger-aged women) and 19 women aged 50–75 years (older-aged women) did not show differences in number of prior quit attempts or their dependence on nicotine (as measured in the Fagerstrom Tolerance Questionnaire). The older aged women smoked for a significantly greater number of years but smoked fewer cigarettes per day than the younger women. In a self-report questionnaire the two age groups differed in their reasons stated for wanting to give up cigarettes and symptoms of illness they experienced related to smoking. The average weight gains for women who quit smoking were minimal (3.5 lb, younger; 3.9 lb, older; 1 lb = 0.453 592/37 kg) although more younger women than older women reported they expected difficulty with weight gain after cessation. Changes in withdrawal experiences were not significantly different at any point during the initial phase of quitting (24, 48 and 72 h).