A Study of Cigarett Smoking Among Adults

The various activities carried out under a grant from the Cancer Society are discussed, including preparatory work, pilot and exploratory studies, the conduct of the major study, and additional activities. The bulk of the report, however, is devoted to the major study in which measures were obtained of: 1) patterns of support for smoking; 2) subjective expected utility for the outcomes of smoking or not smoking; 3) smoking history; 4) manifest anxiety level; and 5) locus of control. In addition, one hundred and five subjects participated in one of three relevant role play situations or in one of two possible control groups. Post experimental measures were taken as well as five day and six month follow-ups. No significant differences were found in either the long-range or short-range change in smoking among the experimental groups. The author concludes that the problem of control of smoking will continue to pose great difficulties. (TL)