Predictors of Female Smokers' Empowerment to Quit Smoking Cigarettes.

The purpose of this study was to provide useful information that could help female smokers quit smoking by exploring factors that could predict their empowerment to quit smoking. The participants were 337 Korean female smokers aged 20 years or older, whose average age was 35.70 years (SD = 9.19). The model predicting female smokers' empowerment to quit smoking was verified using stepwise regression analysis and a decision-tree data-mining method. The results revealed that nicotine dependence, stimulation smoking, smoking for relaxation and tension reduction, craving smoking, habitual smoking, and the recognition that premenstrual syndrome (PMS) interfered with smoking cessation were negatively correlated with the female smokers' empowerment to quit, whereas motivation to quit smoking was positively correlated therewith. Optimistic and present biases were positively correlated with perceived meaning of quit smoking. A stepwise regression analysis revealed that nicotine dependence accounted for the most variance of female smokers' empowerment to quit smoking. A decision-tree model predicting female smokers' empowerment to quit smoking included motivation to quit, amount of smoking per day, alcohol use, craving smoking, smoking for relaxation and tension reduction, and height. These findings provide useful information to assist in further research and to plan intervention for female smokers' smoking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]