COVID-19 Worry and Smoking Abstinence Expectancies Among Hispanic Individuals Who Smoke.

Publication date: Jul 17, 2025

Hispanic persons, the largest minority population in the United States (US), are disproportionately affected by cigarette smoking (hereafter smoking) health disparities. This inequity was made more prominent during COVID-19, as pandemic stress and worry increased substance use disparities. The present study sought to evaluate if COVID-19 worry was associated with increased risk of (negative and positive) smoking abstinence expectancies among Spanish-speaking Hispanic adults who smoke during the pandemic (February 2021-July 2021). Participants identified as Hispanic and smoked combustible cigarettes daily (N = 336; 62. 8% male, 35. 5 years). A cross-sectional research design was employed in the US using scientifically validated instruments. In adjusted models, greater degrees of COVID-19 worry were positively associated with negative mood, somatic symptom, and harmful consequences abstinence expectancies. Further, COVID-19 worry was negatively related to positive abstinence expectancies. The effect sizes across models were generally similar in magnitude and ranged from 9 to 12% of variance, with the largest effect observed for positive abstinence expectancies. The present research highlights the role of COVID-19 worry as an individual difference factor that can help explain abstinence-based cognitions for smoking behavior during time periods when there is widespread viral contagion.

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