Social relations and smoking abstinence among ever-smokers: A report from two large population-based Danish cohort studies

Aims: Relational strain may be a risk factor for relapse after smoking cessation whereas social support may be protective. This study aimed to assess which aspects of social relations were associated with smoking abstinence among ever-smokers. Methods: This cross-sectional questionnaire study included data from two large Danish cohorts: One including younger women (n=10,107) and one including older men (n=21,091) and women (n=23,800). Structural and functional relations with different counterparts were measured. Results: Contact with and support from close counterparts tended to be associated with an increased probability of being smoking abstinent, and contact with or support from more distant counterparts tended to be associated with a decreased probability of being smoking abstinent. Although not completely consistent across all three samples, more frequently meeting too many demands from the partner or other relatives seemed to be associated with a decreased probability of abstinence. The patterns for strain measured as worries or conflicts were less clear. Conclusions: Smoking abstinence was associated with structural and functional measures of social relations and depended on the closeness of the persons constituting the relations. Further knowledge about these associations could lead to a potential in involving social relations in smoking cessation programmes.