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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2022 Feb;45(1):124-132.
doi: 10.1007/s10865-021-00258-2. Epub 2021 Sep 23.

Longitudinal effects of cigarette pictorial warning labels among young adults

Andrea C Johnson  1 , Samuel J Simmens  2 , Monique M Turner  3 , W Douglas Evans  4 , Andrew A Strasser  5 , Darren Mays  6
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Longitudinal effects of cigarette pictorial warning labels among young adults

Andrea C Johnson et al. J Behav Med. 2022 Feb.

Abstract

Young adults are influenced by cigarette package marketing. Pictorial warning labels are a recommended intervention. Evidence demonstrates pictorial warnings impact negative emotion, risk perceptions, and motivation to quit smoking, but there is limited research on their effects over time. This study analyzes data from a randomized trial of young adult smokers (N = 229) exposed to a pictorial or text-only cigarette warning. We assessed changes in fear, anger, risk perceptions, and motivation to quit smoking after 4 weeks using latent change score modeling and over 3 months using latent growth modeling. Latent change results showed exposure was associated with increases in fear, anger, and motivation to quit after 4 weeks. Latent growth showed exposure was associated with increases in motivation to quit smoking over 3 months, but not other outcomes. Findings suggest pictorial warning labels produce an emotional response and increase motivation to quit among young adult smokers.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03446170.

Keywords: Addiction; Cigarettes; Marketing; Prevention; Public health; Tobacco Control.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest/Competing interests

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

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