A Cross-sectional Study Exploring Sex Differences in the Relationship Between Sex Partner Attitudes and Current Quit Attempt Among a Sample of Smokers in Baltimore, MD, USA.
Abstract Background: Limited research has explored sex differences in the relationship between partner behavior and attitudes and smoking cessation. Methods: The study examined sex partner attitudes about smoking among men and women who are currently trying to quit smoking cigarettes. Data were collected as part of the Tobacco Use in Drug Environment (TIDE) study, a cross-sectional study conducted in Baltimore, MD, USA from September 2013-May 2015. Interviews were administered with current smokers. The sample size for the current analysis was 134 men and 86 women. Results: Approximately thirty-three percent of male participants (n=45) reported currently trying to quit smoking cigarettes. Twenty-nine percent of women were currently trying to quit. Having a sex partner who did not mind the participant’s smoking was associated with decreased odds of trying to quit among men (AOR=0.35, p=0.03, 95% CI: 0.13, 0.91). Having a sex partner who expressed concern about the participant’s smoking (AOR=12.9, p<0.01, 95% CI: 3.49, 47.0) and having a sex partner who encouraged the participant to quit smoking was significantly associated current quit attempt. Conclusions: The relationship between partner support for cessation and current quit attempt was stronger for women than men in this population. Understanding sex-partner attitudes regarding smoking and their relationship to smoking cessation activities may provide insights for future tailored cessation interventions.