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Public and private self-consciousness and smoking behavior in head and neck cancer patients

  • Published:
Annals of Behavioral Medicine

Abstract

Patients who continue to use tobacco following treatment for head and neck cancers are at a greater risk for cancer recurrence and earlier mortality. This study examined the unique effects of public and private self-consciousness and negative affect on smoking behavior in a sample of 40 patients with cancers of the head and neck. Measures of public and private self-consciousness and negative affect were administered and assessments of past and current smoking behavior were obtained. Only public self-consciousness was a significant predictor of continued smoking following oncologic treatment. Specifically, individuals with low levels of public self-consciousness were nearly 13 times more likely to continue smoking compared to those with relatively higher levels of public self-consciousness. This pattern is interpreted in the context of previous theorizing that suggests individuals high in public self-consciousness are more likely to discontinue habitual behavior that is perceived as socially undesirable or incorrect.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, E1 1 Seashore Hall, The University of Iowa, 52242, Iowa City, IA

    Katherine A. Raichle M.A., Alan J. Christensen Ph.D., Shawna Ehlers M.A. & Patricia J. Moran Ph.D.

  2. University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa

    Lucy Karnell Ph.D. & Gerry Funk M.D.

Authors
  1. Katherine A. Raichle M.A.
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  2. Alan J. Christensen Ph.D.
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  3. Shawna Ehlers M.A.
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  4. Patricia J. Moran Ph.D.
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  5. Lucy Karnell Ph.D.
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  6. Gerry Funk M.D.
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Alan J. Christensen Ph.D..

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Raichle, K.A., Christensen, A.J., Ehlers, S. et al. Public and private self-consciousness and smoking behavior in head and neck cancer patients. ann. behav. med. 23, 120–124 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1207/S15324796ABM2302_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1207/S15324796ABM2302_6

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