Using the theory of planned behavior in explaining quit intention and past-year quit attempt in Chinese young adult smokers

This study examined whether the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) constructs were differentially related to quit intention and past-year quit attempt in Chinese young adult smokers, and whether these relationships varied by gender and number of other household smokers. Throughout June of 2021, 757 smokers (mean age = 25.95, SD = 3.23) completed an online survey. TPB constructs assessed included affective and instrumental attitude, injunctive and descriptive norms, and perceived control. Moderation effects were assessed via interaction terms. Multivariate analyses revealed that quit intention was associated with instrumental attitude and perceived control, while past-year quit attempt was associated with affective attitude, injunctive norm, and perceived control. Male smokers' quit intention was linked to affective attitude, and female smokers' quit intention was linked to instrumental attitude. Quit intention increased with age only when other household smokers were few (i.e., two or less). The association between perceived control and past-year quit-attempt was more pronounced in female than in male smokers. Quit intention and quit attempt may be governed by partially distinct TPB constructs. TPB constructs were robust to the effect of the number of other household smokers. Male and female smokers may not differ in their quit intention or past-year quit attempt, but may diverge in how TPB constructs drive these outcomes.