XML Feed for RxPG News   Add RxPG News Headlines to My Yahoo!   Javascript Syndication for RxPG News

Research Health World General
 
  Home
 
 Latest Research
 Cancer
 Psychiatry
  Depression
  Neuropsychiatry
  Personality Disorders
  Bulimia
  Anxiety
  Substance Abuse
   Alcohol
   Smoking
   Amphetamine
   Opiates
   Cannabis
   Cocaine
  Suicide
  CFS
  Psychoses
  Child Psychiatry
  Learning-Disabilities
  Psychology
  Forensic Psychiatry
  Mood Disorders
  Sleep Disorders
  Peri-Natal Psychiatry
  Psychotherapy
  Anorexia Nervosa
 Genetics
 Surgery
 Aging
 Ophthalmology
 Gynaecology
 Neurosciences
 Pharmacology
 Cardiology
 Obstetrics
 Infectious Diseases
 Respiratory Medicine
 Pathology
 Endocrinology
 Immunology
 Nephrology
 Gastroenterology
 Biotechnology
 Radiology
 Dermatology
 Microbiology
 Haematology
 Dental
 ENT
 Environment
 Embryology
 Orthopedics
 Metabolism
 Anaethesia
 Paediatrics
 Public Health
 Urology
 Musculoskeletal
 Clinical Trials
 Physiology
 Biochemistry
 Cytology
 Traumatology
 Rheumatology
 
 Medical News
 Health
 Opinion
 Healthcare
 Professionals
 Launch
 Awards & Prizes
 
 Careers
 Medical
 Nursing
 Dental
 
 Special Topics
 Euthanasia
 Ethics
 Evolution
 Odd Medical News
 Feature
 
 World News
 Tsunami
 Epidemics
 Climate
 Business
 
 India
Search

Last Updated: Nov 18, 2006 - 12:32:53 PM

Annals of Behavioral Medicine

Smoking Channel
subscribe to Smoking newsletter

Latest Research : Psychiatry : Substance Abuse : Smoking

   DISCUSS   |   EMAIL   |   PRINT
Weight concerns affects women's motivations to stay smoke-free after delivery
Sep 15, 2006 - 5:43:00 PM, Reviewed by: Dr. Priya Saxena

"Weight concerns are a prevalent problem among American women, and can affect women who have recently given birth."

 
Although many women quit smoking during pregnancy, the majority will resume smoking after having a baby. Results of a University of Pittsburgh study suggest that women's worries about weight may decrease their motivation to remain smoke-free postpartum. The study is published in the October issue of the Annals of Behavioral Medicine.

"Two-thirds of women who quit smoking when pregnant will resume smoking after giving birth," said Michele Levine, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. "We want to understand how factors, such as depression or the baby blues, and weight concerns, might affect women's motivations to smoke after delivery.

"Weight concerns are a prevalent problem among American women, and can affect women who have recently given birth." Dr. Levine continues. "In women who quit smoking when they become pregnant, we found that concerns about weight can make them less motivated to stay smoke-free after pregnancy."

The researchers interviewed 119 women who had smoked at least eight cigarettes per day for at least one month prior to quitting, and who quit after learning they were pregnant. Most of the women, 89 percent, reported quitting on their own without the help of formal programs or materials. During their third trimester, the women completed a series of paper-and-pencil questions about their motivation and confidence for remaining abstinent and their confidence to control their weight without smoking after giving birth. Based on their responses, the women were then divided into two groups, those who were highly motivated not to smoke after giving birth, and those who were less motivated.

A majority, 65 percent, were highly motivated to remain smoke-free, and 74 percent of those women felt confident that they would be able to do so. The researchers found that the more confident a woman was she could maintain her weight without smoking, the more motivated she was to remain a nonsmoker postpartum. Those who were less confident in their ability to control their weight were less motivated to remain smoke-free.

"Our results indicate that weight issues play a role in a woman's motivation to remain smoke-free after pregnancy. The next step is to see if weight concerns play a role in women's actual behavior, beyond motivation, and to understand the best way to target this vulnerability with treatment," said Dr. Levine. "The risks of smoking to both mother and child are well known; hopefully, we will learn about ways to help women reduce the dangers that cigarette exposure can pose to themselves and their children.

Prenatal and postnatal exposure to smoke has been linked to sudden infant death syndrome, ear infections, respiratory illness and asthma. Risks to adults include cancer and respiratory and reproductive complications.
 

- The study is published in the October issue of the Annals of Behavioral Medicine.
 

 
Subscribe to Smoking Newsletter
E-mail Address:

 

The study was funded by the National Institute of Drug Abuse, one of the National Institutes of Health.

Co-authors include Marsha D. Marcus, Ph.D., and Melissa Kalarchian, Ph.D., department of psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic; and Lisa Weissfeld, Ph.D., and Li Qin, Ph.D., department of biostatistics, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health.


Related Smoking News

C. elegans provides model for the genetics of nicotine dependence
Smoking Ban Associated With Rapid Improvement In Health Of Bar Workers in Scotland
Smoking media literacy (SML) is a valuable tool in efforts to discourage teens from smoking
Hold the Hookah
Weight concerns affects women's motivations to stay smoke-free after delivery
Nicotine Withdrawal Begins Within 30 Minutes
Varenicline Appears Effective In Helping Smokers Kick The Habit
Smokers with chronic pain smoke more
Varenicline Prevents Relapse of Smoking Behaviour
Varenicline produce higher continuous smoking abstinence rates


For any corrections of factual information, to contact the editors or to send any medical news or health news press releases, use feedback form

Top of Page

 

© Copyright 2004 onwards by RxPG Medical Solutions Private Limited
Contact Us