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Annals of Behavioral Medicine
Published in: Annals of Behavioral Medicine 3/2009

01-12-2009 | Rapid Communication

Worry as a Moderator of the Association Between Risk Perceptions and Quitting Intentions in Young Adult and Adult Smokers

Authors: William M. P. Klein, Ph.D., Laura E. Zajac, M.S., Matthew M. Monin, M.S.

Published in: Annals of Behavioral Medicine | Issue 3/2009

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Abstract

Background

Although much work addresses the association between risk perceptions and behavior, much less attention has been devoted to identifying psychosocial and sociodemographic moderators of this relationship.

Purpose

We explored whether worry moderates the relationship between risk perceptions and behavioral intentions in an adult sample (where the relationship is typically positive) and a young adult sample (where we have found that the relationship can be negative).

Method

Two samples of smokers (adults and college students) were asked to report worry, risk perceptions, and quitting intentions as part of two cessation interventions.

Results

Among low-worry individuals, the risk perception/intentions relationship was positive in the adult sample and negative in the young adult sample. However, among high-worry individuals, the relationship was negative in the adult sample (and nonsignificant in the young adult sample).

Conclusions

These findings suggest that worry can moderate the extent to which risk perceptions motivate risk-related intentions and that the nature of such moderation may depend on other factors such as age.
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Metadata
Title
Worry as a Moderator of the Association Between Risk Perceptions and Quitting Intentions in Young Adult and Adult Smokers
Authors
William M. P. Klein, Ph.D.
Laura E. Zajac, M.S.
Matthew M. Monin, M.S.
Publication date
01-12-2009
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Annals of Behavioral Medicine / Issue 3/2009
Print ISSN: 0883-6612
Electronic ISSN: 1532-4796
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-009-9143-2

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