Table 3. Testing Hypothesis 2: Mediation of the Effect of Treatment Condition on Long-term Tobacco Abstinence by Maintained Importance of Aspirations for Physical Health.

	Step 1	Step 2	Step 3	Step 4	z′
24-month prolonged abstinence (24mPA) from tobacco	b = 1.12*	β = .08**	b = .81***	b = 1.14*	2.25**
Seven-day point prevalence (7dPP) tobacco abstinence	b = .54*	β = .08**	b = .27*	b = .52*	1.68**
Longest number of days not smoking	β = .11***	β = .08**	β = .12***	β = .10**	2.16**

Notes. Step 1 refers to the relation of the independent variable (IV) to the dependent variable (DV). Step 2 refers to the relation of the IV to the mediating variable (MV). Step 3 refers to the relation of the MV to the DV while controlling for the IV. Step 4 refers to the relation of the IV to the DV while controlling for the MV. The z′ statistic refers to the significance of the indirect effect of the IV on the DV through the MV.

^*p < .05

^**p < .01

^***p < .001.