The role of time perspective in smoking cessation amongst older English adults.

OBJECTIVE: To study the longitudinal relationship between time perspective and smoking cessation over 4 years of follow-up among a cohort of older English adults and to determine whether the predictive utility of time perspective in smoking cessation. DESIGN: Analysis of data from core members of the English Longitudinal Survey of Ageing who took part in face-to-face interviews in 2002, 2004, and 2006 (n = 7,174). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Time perspective was measured using a question on time period for financial planning. Smoking at baseline and quitting over follow-up was determined through self-report. RESULTS: At baseline, planning for longer periods was associated with lower odds of being a smoker, after controlling for age, gender, and education. Among those who were smokers at baseline, planning for longer periods at baseline was associated with increased odds of quitting over 4 years, after controlling for age, gender, and education. CONCLUSION: Including help to become more future orientated in smoking cessation interventions may increase their effectiveness.