Skip to main content
PMC home page
Tobacco Control logoLink to Tobacco Control
. 2000 Dec;9(4):415–422. doi: 10.1136/tc.9.4.415

Do social support interventions ("buddy systems") aid smoking cessation? A review

S May 1, R West 1
PMCID: PMC1748387  PMID: 11106712

Abstract

OBJECTIVE—To provide an overview of the role of social support in smoking cessation and to critically review evidence regarding the use of "buddy systems" (where smokers are specifically provided with someone to support them) to aid smoking cessation.
DATA SOURCES—Studies were located by searching Medline and Psyclit using the key words "smoking", "smoking cessation", "social support", and "buddy". Additional studies were identified through reference lists. Only studies reported in English and published since 1980 were included.
STUDY SELECTION—Studies were selected on four criteria: publication in a peer reviewed journal; randomised controlled trial using smokers who wanted to stop; the use of a social support intervention, including a "buddy"; dependent variable of smoking abstinence. Most research in this area does not use a randomised design so only a small proportion of the originally identified studies were included.
DATA SYNTHESIS—In view of the diverse nature of the studies, a meta-analysis was not attempted. Ten studies were identified: nine were clinic based smoking trials, eight used a group format, and nine used buddies from among smokers' existing relationships. Support training varied from role play and rehearsal to a simple instruction to call each other regularly. Intervention and follow up periods varied between studies. Two studies showed a significant benefit of the intervention in the short term.
CONCLUSIONS—Research methodology in many cases was poor. The evidence would suggest that in the context of a smokers clinic the use of buddies may be of some benefit. There is a lack of evidence regarding the efficacy of the use of buddies in community interventions. This is an important area for future research.


Keywords: social support; smoking cessation; buddy

Full Text

The Full Text of this article is available as a PDF (147.0 KB).

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Albrecht S., Payne L., Stone C. A., Reynolds M. D. A preliminary study of the use of peer support in smoking cessation programs for pregnant adolescents. J Am Acad Nurse Pract. 1998 Mar;10(3):119–125. doi: 10.1111/j.1745-7599.1998.tb01205.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Brown G. W., Andrews B., Harris T., Adler Z., Bridge L. Social support, self-esteem and depression. Psychol Med. 1986 Nov;16(4):813–831. doi: 10.1017/s0033291700011831. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Cohen S., Lichtenstein E. Partner behaviors that support quitting smoking. J Consult Clin Psychol. 1990 Jun;58(3):304–309. doi: 10.1037//0022-006x.58.3.304. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Coppotelli H. C., Orleans C. T. Partner support and other determinants of smoking cessation maintenance among women. J Consult Clin Psychol. 1985 Aug;53(4):455–460. doi: 10.1037//0022-006x.53.4.455. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Digiusto E., Bird K. D. Matching smokers to treatment: self-control versus social support. J Consult Clin Psychol. 1995 Apr;63(2):290–295. doi: 10.1037//0022-006x.63.2.290. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Etringer B. D., Gregory V. R., Lando H. A. Influence of group cohesion on the behavioral treatment of smoking. J Consult Clin Psychol. 1984 Dec;52(6):1080–1086. doi: 10.1037//0022-006x.52.6.1080. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Ginsberg D., Hall S. M., Rosinski M. Partner interaction and smoking cessation: a pilot study. Addict Behav. 1991;16(5):195–202. doi: 10.1016/0306-4603(91)90012-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Ginsberg D., Hall S. M., Rosinski M. Partner support, psychological treatment, and nicotine gum in smoking treatment: an incremental study. Int J Addict. 1992 May;27(5):503–514. doi: 10.3109/10826089209063465. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Glasgow R. E., Klesges R. C., O'Neill H. K. Programming social support for smoking modification: an extension and replication. Addict Behav. 1986;11(4):453–457. doi: 10.1016/0306-4603(86)90027-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Gruder C. L., Mermelstein R. J., Kirkendol S., Hedeker D., Wong S. C., Schreckengost J., Warnecke R. B., Burzette R., Miller T. Q. Effects of social support and relapse prevention training as adjuncts to a televised smoking-cessation intervention. J Consult Clin Psychol. 1993 Feb;61(1):113–120. doi: 10.1037//0022-006x.61.1.113. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Gulliver S. B., Hughes J. R., Solomon L. J., Dey A. N. An investigation of self-efficacy, partner support and daily stresses as predictors of relapse to smoking in self-quitters. Addiction. 1995 Jun;90(6):767–772. doi: 10.1046/j.1360-0443.1995.9067673.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Hajek P., Belcher M., Stapleton J. Enhancing the impact of groups: an evaluation of two group formats for smokers. Br J Clin Psychol. 1985 Nov;24(Pt 4):289–294. doi: 10.1111/j.2044-8260.1985.tb00661.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Hanson B. S., Isacsson S. O., Janzon L., Lindell S. E. Social support and quitting smoking for good. Is there an association? Results from the population study, "Men born in 1914," Malmö, Sweden. Addict Behav. 1990;15(3):221–233. doi: 10.1016/0306-4603(90)90065-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Heller K., Thompson M. G., Trueba P. E., Hogg J. R., Vlachos-Weber I. Peer support telephone dyads for elderly women: was this the wrong intervention? Am J Community Psychol. 1991 Feb;19(1):53–74. doi: 10.1007/BF00942253. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Hymowitz N., Cummings K. M., Hyland A., Lynn W. R., Pechacek T. F., Hartwell T. D. Predictors of smoking cessation in a cohort of adult smokers followed for five years. Tob Control. 1997;6 (Suppl 2):S57–S62. doi: 10.1136/tc.6.suppl_2.s57. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Jacobson N. S., Follette W. C., Revenstorf D., Baucom D. H., Hahlweg K., Margolin G. Variability in outcome and clinical significance of behavioral marital therapy: a reanalysis of outcome data. J Consult Clin Psychol. 1984 Aug;52(4):497–504. doi: 10.1037//0022-006x.52.4.497. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Kviz F. J., Crittenden K. S., Madura K. J., Warnecke R. B. Use and effectiveness of buddy support in a self-help smoking cessation program. Am J Health Promot. 1994 Jan-Feb;8(3):191–201. doi: 10.4278/0890-1171-8.3.191. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Lando H. A., Hellerstedt W. L., Pirie P. L., McGovern P. G. Brief supportive telephone outreach as a recruitment and intervention strategy for smoking cessation. Am J Public Health. 1992 Jan;82(1):41–46. doi: 10.2105/ajph.82.1.41. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Lando H. A., McGovern P. G. The influence of group cohesion on the behavioral treatment of smoking: a failure to replicate. Addict Behav. 1991;16(3-4):111–121. doi: 10.1016/0306-4603(91)90003-z. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Malott J. M., Glasgow R. E., O'Neill H. K., Klesges R. C. Co-worker social support in a worksite smoking control program. J Appl Behav Anal. 1984 Winter;17(4):485–495. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1984.17-485. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. McBride C. M., Curry S. J., Grothaus L. C., Nelson J. C., Lando H., Pirie P. L. Partner smoking status and pregnant smoker's perceptions of support for and likelihood of smoking cessation. Health Psychol. 1998 Jan;17(1):63–69. doi: 10.1037//0278-6133.17.1.63. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Mermelstein R., Cohen S., Lichtenstein E., Baer J. S., Kamarck T. Social support and smoking cessation and maintenance. J Consult Clin Psychol. 1986 Aug;54(4):447–453. doi: 10.1037//0022-006x.54.4.447. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Morgan G. D., Ashenberg Z. S., Fisher E. B., Jr Abstinence from smoking and the social environment. J Consult Clin Psychol. 1988 Apr;56(2):298–301. doi: 10.1037//0022-006x.56.2.298. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Murray R. P., Johnston J. J., Dolce J. J., Lee W. W., O'Hara P. Social support for smoking cessation and abstinence: the Lung Health Study. Lung Health Study Research Group. Addict Behav. 1995 Mar-Apr;20(2):159–170. doi: 10.1016/s0306-4603(99)80001-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Orleans C. T., Schoenbach V. J., Wagner E. H., Quade D., Salmon M. A., Pearson D. C., Fiedler J., Porter C. Q., Kaplan B. H. Self-help quit smoking interventions: effects of self-help materials, social support instructions, and telephone counseling. J Consult Clin Psychol. 1991 Jun;59(3):439–448. doi: 10.1037//0022-006x.59.3.439. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Peto R., Lopez A. D., Boreham J., Thun M., Heath C., Jr, Doll R. Mortality from smoking worldwide. Br Med Bull. 1996 Jan;52(1):12–21. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.bmb.a011519. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Pirie P. L., Rooney B. L., Pechacek T. F., Lando H. A., Schmid L. A. Incorporating social support into a community-wide smoking-cessation contest. Addict Behav. 1997 Jan-Feb;22(1):131–137. doi: 10.1016/0306-4603(95)00106-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Raw M., McNeill A., West R. Smoking cessation guidelines for health professionals. A guide to effective smoking cessation interventions for the health care system. Health Education Authority. Thorax. 1998 Dec;53 (Suppl 5 Pt 1):S1–19. doi: 10.1136/thx.53.2008.s1. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Richmond R. L., Kehoe L. A., Webster I. W. Multivariate models for predicting abstention following intervention to stop smoking by general practitioners. Addiction. 1993 Aug;88(8):1127–1135. doi: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.1993.tb02132.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Roski J., Schmid L. A., Lando H. A. Long-term associations of helpful and harmful spousal behaviors with smoking cessation. Addict Behav. 1996 Mar-Apr;21(2):173–185. doi: 10.1016/0306-4603(95)00047-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. Stevens P. A., Greene J. G., Primavera L. H. Predicting successful smoking cessation. J Soc Psychol. 1982 Dec;118(SECOND):235–241. doi: 10.1080/00224545.1982.9922802. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  32. Venters M. H., Kottke T. E., Solberg L. I., Brekke M. L., Rooney B. Dependency, social factors, and the smoking cessation process: the doctors helping smokers study. Am J Prev Med. 1990 Jul-Aug;6(4):185–193. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  33. Waldron I., Lye D. Family roles and smoking. Am J Prev Med. 1989 May-Jun;5(3):136–141. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  34. Waller R. E., Froggatt P. Product modification. Br Med Bull. 1996 Jan;52(1):193–205. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.bmb.a011526. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  35. Warnecke R. B., Flay B. R., Kviz F. J., Gruder C. L., Langenberg P., Crittenden K. S., Mermelstein R. J., Aitken M., Wong S. C., Cook T. D. Characteristics of participants in a televised smoking cessation intervention. Prev Med. 1991 May;20(3):389–403. doi: 10.1016/0091-7435(91)90037-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  36. West R., Edwards M., Hajek P. A randomized controlled trial of a "buddy" systems to improve success at giving up smoking in general practice. Addiction. 1998 Jul;93(7):1007–1011. doi: 10.1046/j.1360-0443.1998.93710075.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Tobacco Control are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES