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Perceived Susceptibility to and Seriousness of COVID-19: Associations of Risk Perceptions with Changes in Smoking Behavior

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  • Erin A. Vogel

    (Stanford Prevention Research Center, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Medical School Office Building, X316, 1265 Welch Road, Stanford, CA 94305, USA)

  • Lisa Henriksen

    (Stanford Prevention Research Center, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Medical School Office Building, X316, 1265 Welch Road, Stanford, CA 94305, USA)

  • Nina C. Schleicher

    (Stanford Prevention Research Center, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Medical School Office Building, X316, 1265 Welch Road, Stanford, CA 94305, USA)

  • Judith J. Prochaska

    (Stanford Prevention Research Center, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Medical School Office Building, X316, 1265 Welch Road, Stanford, CA 94305, USA)

Abstract

During the COVID-19 pandemic, studies have documented increased and decreased cigarette smoking among adults. Individual differences in the perceived susceptibility and seriousness of the virus, for people who smoke in general and for oneself personally, may relate to changes in smoking. Using the Health Belief Model (HBM) as a theoretical framework, we examined associations with self-reported increasing and decreasing smoking a lot during the COVID-19 stay-at-home period. Adults in 30 large U.S. cities who smoked cigarettes daily completed an online survey between 14 July and 30 November 2020. The analytic sample (N = 2768) was 54.0% male and 68.3% white with 23.7% reporting increasing and 11.3% decreasing smoking (6% reported both). Younger age, a diagnosis of COVID-19, and greater pandemic-related stress were associated with greater odds of both increased and decreased smoking. Increased smoking also was associated with heavier nicotine dependence, greater desire to quit, and greater perceived susceptibility and lower perceived seriousness of COVID-19 for people who smoke, while pandemic-related job-loss, lower nicotine dependence, and greater self-efficacy were associated with decreased smoking. Among respondents who had not contracted COVID-19 ( n = 2418), correlates were similar with the addition of greater perceived personal susceptibility to COVID-19 associated with both increased and decreased smoking, while greater perceived personal seriousness of COVID-19 was associated with increased smoking. Findings for risk perceptions were largely in directions that contradict the HBM. Circumstances surrounding behavior change during the pandemic are complex and may be especially complex for nicotine addiction.

Suggested Citation

  • Erin A. Vogel & Lisa Henriksen & Nina C. Schleicher & Judith J. Prochaska, 2021. "Perceived Susceptibility to and Seriousness of COVID-19: Associations of Risk Perceptions with Changes in Smoking Behavior," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-14, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:14:p:7621-:d:596309
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Zoe Rosoff-Verbit & Erin Logue-Chamberlain & Jessica Fishman & Janet Audrain-McGovern & Larry Hawk & Martin Mahoney & Alexa Mazur & Rebecca Ashare, 2021. "The Perceived Impact of COVID-19 among Treatment-Seeking Smokers: A Mixed Methods Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-12, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Hui Liu & Guichuan Lai & Guiqian Shi & Xiaoni Zhong, 2022. "The Influencing Factors of HIV-Preventive Behavior Based on Health Belief Model among HIV-Negative MSMs in Western China: A Structural Equation Modeling Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-11, August.
    2. Brandon W. Reed & Arthur L. Brody & Andre Y. Sanavi & Neal Doran, 2023. "Associations between Tobacco Use, Surges, and Vaccination Status over Time in the COVID-19 Era," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-8, January.
    3. Yajie Li & Tzu Tsun Luk & Yongda Wu & Derek Yee Tak Cheung & William Ho Cheung Li & Henry Sau Chai Tong & Vienna Wai Yin Lai & Sai Yin Ho & Tai Hing Lam & Man Ping Wang, 2021. "High Perceived Susceptibility to and Severity of COVID-19 in Smokers Are Associated with Quitting-Related Behaviors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-9, October.
    4. Lisa M. Fucito & Krysten W. Bold & Sydney Cannon & Alison Serrantino & Rebecca Marrero & Stephanie S. O’Malley, 2022. "Cigarette Smoking in Response to COVID-19: Examining Co-Morbid Medical Conditions and Risk Perceptions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-12, July.
    5. Xiaoyu Wang & Zaifei Ma & Chunan Wang, 2022. "A Longitudinal Study on the Addictive Behaviors of General Population before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-12, May.
    6. Hui Zhang & Min Zhuang & Yihan Cao & Jingxian Pan & Xiaowan Zhang & Jie Zhang & Honglei Zhang, 2021. "Social Distancing in Tourism Destination Management during the COVID-19 Pandemic in China: A Moderated Mediation Model," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-16, October.

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