Measuring Communal Coping in Dual-smoking Couples Making a Quit Attempt

NCT07553962 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 23-2285
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 250
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Smoking is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States, and quitting is especially difficult for couples who both smoke. When both partners smoke, they are less likely to quit successfully and more likely to relapse compared to people whose partner does not smoke. Research suggests that the way romantic partners interact and support each other during a quit attempt can make a real difference - but researchers do not yet know enough about what kinds of support actually help. This study examines a concept called "communal coping," which refers to when partners treat a shared health challenge - like quitting smoking - as something they are facing together as a team rather than as separate individuals. Researchers believe that couples who approach quitting this way may have better outcomes. To study this, researchers will ask both members of dual-smoking couples to complete brief daily surveys over two weeks while making a quit attempt. These surveys will track how partners support (or discourage) each other's quitting efforts on a day-to-day basis, along with cigarette use, cravings, and stress. This will help researchers understand which relationship patterns are most helpful for quitting, and identify specific targets for future couples-based smoking cessation programs.

Conditions

Smoking (Tobacco) Addiction; Smoking ( Cigarette); Tobacco; Tobacco Abstinence; Quitting Smoking; Smoking Cessation

Keywords

smoking cessation; tobacco; cigarette; relationships

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Self-report of smoking abstinence

  Participants will report how many cigarettes they smoked (or didn't smoke) in their daily diary surveys.

  Daily for the first two weeks of the study period, and in the follow-up survey two weeks later.

• Concentration of carbon monoxide found in lungs.

  Participants will use a carbon monoxide breathalyzer and report the results in their daily diary surveys.

  Daily for the first two weeks of the study.

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Dual-smoking couples residing in the United States

You may qualify if:

• Are over the age of 18
• Smoke cigarettes on a daily basis
• Smoke at least 5 cigarettes per day on average
• Are in a committed relationship with an individual who smokes at least 5 cigarettes per day on average and is willing to participate in the study
• Are willing to make a smoking cessation attempt at the time of enrollment into the study (applies to only one partner).

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Colorado, Denver: lead
• University of Oklahoma: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

University of Colorado Denver

Denver, Colorado, 80204, United States

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Smoking; Behavior, Addictive; Cigarette Smoking; Smoking Cessation

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavior; Compulsive Behavior; Impulsive Behavior; Tobacco Smoking; Tobacco Use; Health Behavior

Central Study Contacts

Slaton Z Freeman, M.A.

CONTACT

512-755-1814; zane.freeman@ucdenver.edu

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: OTHER
• Time Perspective: OTHER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 13, 2026
• First Posted: April 28, 2026
• Study Start: March 20, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): August 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2026
• Last Updated: April 28, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-04

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)