Smoking-related psychosocial beliefs and justifications among smokers in India: Findings from Tobacco Control Policy (TCP) India Surveys.

Sidhu AK*, Pednekar MS, Fong GT, Gupta PC, Quah ACK, Unger J, Sussman S, Sood N,

Wipfli H, Valente T. BMC Public Health. 2022 Sep 13;22(1):1738. doi: 10.1186/s12889-022-14112-w.

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Previous research in high-income countries (HICs) has shown that smokers reduce their cognitive dissonance through two types of justifications over time: risk minimizing and functional beliefs. To date, however, the relationship between these justifications and smoking behaviors over time has limited evidence from low- and middle-income countries. This study examines these of justifications and their relation to quitting behavior and intentions among smoking tobacco users in India.