Smoking cessation and financial stress

Research on the financial consequences of quitting smoking is scant. We examined the association of smoking cessation with the subsequent likelihood of experiencing financial stress. Data came from Waves 1, 2 and 3 (2001-04) of the Household Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia survey. The size of the subsample of smokers in Wave 1 who also participated in Waves 2 and 3 was 1747. We compared respondents who reported to have been a smoker in all three waves with those who were smokers only in Wave 1. Eight questionnaire items were used to construct a binary financial stress indicator. The odds of experiencing financial stress in Wave 3 were 42% (95% CI: 6-74%; P = 0.028) smaller for quitters than for continued smokers. Interventions to encourage smoking cessation among disadvantaged groups are likely to enhance their material conditions and standards of living, and to reduce socio-economic disparities in mortality.