By Gabe Sanders PhD, NSCA-CSCS
We often hear about the incredible health benefits of exercise, but did you know that incorporating exercise into your daily routine or using it to replace a bad habit can play a significant role in helping individuals quit smoking?
The Run to Quit program is a shining example of this
By encouraging running behavior among smokers, this initiative not only promotes physical health but also supports the journey to becoming smoke-free. The essence of the program lies in the transformation of identity. The program posits that as people begin to see themselves as runners or fitness enthusiasts, their identity as smokers starts to fade.
A recent study delved deeper into this phenomenon to understand the key predictors that influence such changes in identity. More than the identity change, adopting a new behavior can help ease the behavioral habit of smoking.
In a new study published in Psychology of Sport and Exercise, data from 450 participants from the Run to Quit program between 2016 to 2018 was analyzed. The participant’s progress was tracked at the beginning, middle, and end of the program, focusing on potential predictors of their change in running and smoking identity. These predictors were grounded in various theories, such as identity theory and social identity theory, and past research on exercise and smoking identities.
The results? Highly encouraging!
The study found that changes in an individual's belief in their ability to run, how often they ran, and their connection to group exercise tasks were crucial predictors of their budding identity as runners. On the flip side, as participants reduced their smoking and started identifying more as runners, they saw a meaningful drop in their smoking identity.
In general terms, the more participants felt capable and enjoyed group running exercises, the more they started to see themselves as runners and not smokers. This crucial shift in identity seems to be the linchpin in the battle against smoking.
Exercise, specifically running in this case, goes beyond just physical benefits. It can be a transformative force, helping smokers ditch the cigarette and adopt a healthier lifestyle. Incorporating group exercises, especially ones that individuals enjoy and feel confident in, can be a game-changer in smoking cessation programs.
So, if you're thinking of quitting smoking, perhaps it's time to lace up those running shoes and embrace a new, healthier identity!
Article’s Source
Wierts, Colin M., et al. “Predictors of changes in running and smoking identity among individuals in the Run to Quit smoking cessation program.” Psychology of Sport and Exercise 67 (2023): 102431.
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