Smokers who are willing to give up this unhealthy habit have
many means of doing it: nicotine patches, nicotine chewing gum, medical help.
But they often fail. A new study found the reason: it is more difficult to quit
alone but in groups. The research was published yesterday in the New England
Journal of Medicine.
Findings show that people decide to give up smoking after
close friends or relatives of theirs had done this. Seemingly, this is the most
effective incentive for a smoker to kick his vice, as the influence of dear
ones provides the best motivation.
"This study tells us that social relationships have a
critical impact on health behaviors and decisions, and that people are strongly
influenced by those in their social sphere," said National Institute on
Aging director Dr. Richard Hodes, whose institute financed the study.
More than 12,000 people with ages between 21 and 70 were
involved in the study. Researchers have analyzed the subjects over a 30 years’
period and have concluded that social relationships had a major role in one’s
decision to take up, respectively to quit smoking.
Between 1965 and 2006, 41,9% of Americans were smoking.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the percent
has decreased to the moment, reaching 20,8%.
Seemingly, most people quit at the same time as other people
they knew. The outcome of the study shows that a smoker was 67% more likely to
quit if his/her spouse did so, 36% more likely if a friend did so, and 25 %
more likely if a sibling quit.
Specialists have emphasized the importance of receiving
support from close ones when quitting smoking. They even advise individuals who
want to get rid of this vice to try to convince other to.
"If you are trying to give up don't keep it a secret,
try and recruit people from your own social network. It gives you a sense of
group identity and you are more likely to go along with what is expected in the
group,” said Dr Martin Hagger, a health psychologist from the University of Nottingham,
as cited by Reuters.
