Mood Management Mail Intervention Increases Abstinence Rates for Spanish‐Speaking Latino Smokers

A self‐administered mood management intervention program for smoking cessation provided through the mail to Spanish‐speaking Latinos resulted in a 23% abstinence rate at 3 months compared to an 11% abstinence rate for a smoking cessation guide alone. Participants (N = 136) were randomly assigned to receive either the cessation guide (the Guía), or the Guía plus a mood management intervention (Tomando Control de su Vida) presented in writing and in audiotape format. At 3 months after random assignment, 16 out of 71 of those assigned to the Guía‐plus‐mood management condition reported being abstinent (not smoking for at least 7 days) compared to 7 out of 65 in the Guía‐only condition (z = 1.8; p = .04, one‐tailed). Moreover, those with a history of major depressive episodes, but not currently depressed, reported an even higher abstinence rate in the Guía‐plus‐mood management condition, compared to the Guía‐only condition (31 vs. 11%, z = 1.8, p = .04, one‐tailed). We conclude that the mood management mail intervention substantially increases abstinence rates, especially for those with a history of major depressive episodes.