Reducing onset of habitual smoking among women.

More women smoke cigarettes than ever before. The untoward health consequences of habitual smoking for women are well documented. The authors argue that, for developmental and social reasons, females may initiate and continue smoking for reasons that differ from the conditions that promote and maintain smoking among males. This article outlines the case for and potential content of a female-specific approach to reducing smoking among women. Gender differences in responsiveness to clinical programs to reduce or deter smoking, findings from social and clinical psychology that suggest explanations for female-specific patterns in cigarette use, data from a smoking prevention trial with adolescents showing differential effects for females, and implications for improving clinical interventions to prevent smoking initiation and habitual smoking among women are discussed.