How the New European Union’s (Pictorial) Tobacco Health Warnings Influence Quit Attempts and Smoking Cessation: Findings from the 2016–2017 International Tobacco Control (ITC) Netherlands Surveys

Dirk-Jan A. van Mourik, Math J. J. M. Candel, Gera E. Nagelhout, Marc C. Willemsen, Hua-Hie Yong, Bas van den Putte, Geoffrey T. Fong and Hein de Vries
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Dirk-Jan A. van Mourik: Department of Health Promotion, Maastricht University (CAPHRI), 6229 HA Maastricht, Limburg, The Netherlands
Math J. J. M. Candel: Department of Methodology and Statistics, Maastricht University (CAPHRI), 6229 HA Maastricht, Limburg, The Netherlands
Gera E. Nagelhout: Department of Health Promotion, Maastricht University (CAPHRI), 6229 HA Maastricht, Limburg, The Netherlands
Marc C. Willemsen: Department of Health Promotion, Maastricht University (CAPHRI), 6229 HA Maastricht, Limburg, The Netherlands
Hua-Hie Yong: School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong 3220, Australia
Bas van den Putte: Department of Communication, University of Amsterdam (ASCoR), 1001 NG Amsterdam, Noord Holland, The Netherlands
Geoffrey T. Fong: Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
Hein de Vries: Department of Health Promotion, Maastricht University (CAPHRI), 6229 HA Maastricht, Limburg, The Netherlands

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 21, 1-15

Abstract: In 2016, the Netherlands was required to introduce new European Union (EU)’s (pictorial) tobacco health warnings. Our objective was to describe the pathways through which the new EU tobacco health warnings may influence quit attempts and smoking cessation among Dutch smokers. Longitudinal data from 2016 and 2017 from the International Tobacco Control (ITC) Netherlands Survey were used. Smokers who participated in both surveys were included ( N = 1017). Structural equation modeling was applied to examine the hypothesized pathways. Health warning salience was positively associated with more health worries (β = 0.301, p < 0.001) and a more positive attitude towards quitting (β = 0.180, p < 0.001), which, in turn, were associated with a stronger quit intention (health worries: β = 0.304, p < 0.001; attitude: β = 0.340, p < 0.001). Quit intention was a strong predictor of quit attempts (β = 0.336, p = 0.001). Health warning salience was also associated with stronger perceived social norms towards quitting (β = 0.166, p < 0.001), which directly predicted quit attempts (β = 0.141, p = 0.048). Quit attempts were positively associated with smoking cessation (β = 0.453, p = 0.043). Based on these findings, we posit that the effect of the EU’s tobacco health warnings on quit attempts and smoking cessation is mediated by increased health worries and a more positive attitude and perceived social norms towards quitting. Making tobacco health warnings more salient (e.g., by using plain packaging) may increase their potential to stimulate quitting among smokers.

Keywords: pictorial health warnings; smokers; quit attempts; smoking cessation; structural equation modeling (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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