Correlates of stages of change of smoking among inhabitants of deprived neighbourhoods

Background: This study examines the prevalence and correlates of stages of change of smoking, in terms of psychosocial, structural and sociodemographic factors, among inhabitants of deprived neighbourhoods. Methods: Cross-sectional data were obtained from a survey on health related behaviour. Subjects were 2009 current and former smokers, aged 20–46, living in deprived neighbourhoods in Rotterdam, the second largest city in the Netherlands. Three groups of smokers were formed according to the stages of change-definitions of the Transtheoretical Model: smokers not planning to quit (precontemplators), smokers planning to quit (contemplators/preparators) and former smokers (actors/maintainers). Smokers planning to quit and smokers not planning to quit were compared regarding psychosocial factors (attitude, social norm, self-efficacy), structural factors (neighbourhood problems, material deprivation, financial problems, employment status) and sociodemographic factors (age, gender, marital status, cultural background, educational level). Former smokers were compared with smokers planning to quit regarding structural and sociodemographic factors. Logistic regression was used to assess correlates of stages of change. Results: Smokers planning to quit (prevalence 19%) reported a more positive attitude, stronger social norms and higher self-efficacy expectations in quitting smoking than smokers not planning t