Communicating the benefits of quitting smoking on mental health increases motivation to quit in people with anxiety and/or depression: A randomized trial of two health messages

BackgroundAlthough smoking rates have declined over time, this decline has not been observed among those with mental health concerns. It is therefore important to develop effective messaging to support quitting in this population. MethodsWe conducted an online experiment with 419 adults who smoke cigarettes daily. Participants with, or without a lifetime history of anxiety and/or depression were randomized to view a message focused on the benefits of quitting smoking on mental or physical health. Participants then reported motivation to quit smoking, mental health concerns about quitting, and perceived effectiveness of the message. ResultsParticipants with a lifetime history of anxiety and/or depression who saw the message focused on the benefits of quitting smoking on mental health reported greater motivation to quit than when they saw a message focused on the benefits to physical health. This was not replicated when examining current symptoms instead of lifetime history. Pre-existing beliefs that smoking improves ones mood were greater in those experiencing current symptoms and in those with a lifetime history of anxiety and/or depression. There was no main or interaction (message type X mental health status) effect of message type received on mental health related concerns about quitting. ConclusionsThis study is one of the first to evaluate a smoking cessation message with content specifically targeted to those with mental health concerns about quitting smoking. Additional work is needed to determine how to best target those with mental health concerns with messages focused on the benefits of quitting on mental health. ImplicationsThese data can begin to inform regulatory efforts to address tobacco use in those with comorbid anxiety and/or depression by providing information on how to effectively communicate the benefits of quitting smoking on mental health.