Understanding the role of cessation fatigue in smoking relapse: Findings from the International Tobacco Control Four Country Smoking and Vaping Survey

Abstract

Background and Aim: Relapse risk among people who formerly smoke is influenced by task difficulty. Cessation fatigue (CF) may be a better predictor than measures such as reported strength of urges to smoke (SUTS) and abstinence self-efficacy (ASE). It may also be affected by quit length and use of other nicotine products. The current study investigated whether post-quitting CF predicts higher relapse risk, its predictive utility relative to ASE and SUTS and whether the CF-relapse prediction was moderated by time since quitting. Design: Data drawn from longitudinal cohort surveys conducted between 2016 and 2022 of the International Tobacco Control Four Country Smoking and Vaping Survey. Setti..