INTRODUCTION: Although prevalence of smoking in the USA has been decreasing for decades, smoking rates among low-income individuals remain elevated. Theories from behavioral economics and prior research suggest that financial stress may contribute to the difficulty that low-income smokers face in quitting. The present work is a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial that incorporated financial coaching and social services referrals into smoking cessation treatment. Primary analyses showed that participants randomized to the intervention (N = 208) were significantly more likely not to smoke, to have lower financial stress, and to be able to afford leisure activities (p < .05) than were control participants (N = 202).
METHODS: This paper investigates subgroup discrepancies in attendance of intervention sessions and in uptake of various components of this intervention through exploratory analysis.
RESULTS: Analysis using logistic regression indicated that decreased age, not having received higher education, and having income less than $1000 per month were predictive of decreased counseling attendance (p < .05). Few demographic factors were predictive of uptake of counseling components among those who attended counseling.
CONCLUSIONS: These results can guide future efforts to increase participant engagement in the intervention.
Predictors of counseling participation among low-income people offered an integrated intervention targeting financial distress and tobacco use
Prevention Science, 24 (3), 525-534. doi: 10.1007/s11121-022-01416-x. PMCID: PMC9361947.