Ex-smokers happier, say researchers

SMOKERS are much happier after quitting, according to a Cancer Research UK study.

Researchers examined the responses of 879 adults who had stopped smoking. More than two-thirds said they feel happier now than when they were smoking.

Only one in thirty felt less happy. Around a quarter said they felt the same.

The length of time since quitting affected the level of happiness. Ex-smokers who had stopped more than a year ago reported feeling happier than ex-smokers who had stopped within the last year.

Even among ex-smokers who had recently stopped, a large majority felt happier than when they smoked. Younger ex-smokers were also more likely to report feeling happier than older ex-smokers.

There was no difference in the level of happiness between ex-smokers who smoked heavily or those who smoked fewer cigarettes, irrespective of age, sex, social group and time since giving up smoking.

Cancer Research UK’s Dr Lion Shahab, lead researcher based at the UCL Health Behaviour Research Centre, said: “There may be many reasons why ex-smokers say they’re happier now than when they were smokers, including self-justification.

"These results provide reassurance to would-be quitters that they will not only improve their physical health but that their quality of life is also likely to improve if they succeed in stopping smoking.”

“Most smokers would like to give up if they could. But for some, stopping isn't simple. Previous research has shown that it generally takes more than one attempt to successfully quit. The important thing is that people keep trying.”