Communal coping in couples where both partners smoke during a quit attempt

Communal Coping in Dual-Smoking Couples During a Quit Attempt

University of Colorado, Denver · NCT07553962

This project tests whether couples who tackle quitting as a team (communal coping) fare better when one partner in a smoking couple tries to quit.

Quick facts

Study typeObservational
Enrollment250 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorUniversity of Colorado, Denver (other)
Locations1 site (Denver, Colorado)
Trial IDNCT07553962 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This observational project asks both members of couples who both smoke to complete brief daily surveys for two weeks while one partner makes a quit attempt. Surveys record daily communal coping behaviors, partner support interactions, cravings, slips, and mood to link interaction patterns with short-term quitting outcomes. No treatment is provided; researchers will analyze natural day-to-day behavior to identify patterns associated with better success and lower relapse. Eligible participants are adult daily smokers (≥5 cigarettes/day) in a committed relationship with a partner who also smokes and can participate.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults (18+) who smoke at least 5 cigarettes per day, are in a committed relationship with a partner who also smokes at least 5 cigarettes per day and can join the study, and where one partner is willing to make a quit attempt at enrollment.

Not a fit: People who are not in a dual-smoking relationship, who are unwilling to attempt quitting, who smoke fewer than 5 cigarettes per day, or whose partner cannot or will not participate are unlikely to gain benefit from participating.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could identify specific ways couples can support each other that increase the chances of staying smoke-free.

How similar studies have performed: Prior research links partner support and joint coping to better quit outcomes, but applying the communal coping framework specifically in dual-smoking couples has been relatively novel and lightly tested.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* 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).

Where this trial is running

Denver, Colorado

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.

View on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Conditions: Smoking Addiction, Smoking, Tobacco, Tobacco Abstinence, Quitting Smoking, Smoking Cessation, smoking cessation, tobacco

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.