Title: Relationship Between Smoking and Marital Adjustment & Social Support Among
Women with Spouses Experiencing Alcohol/Substance Use Disorders
Version: 2 Date: 05 Jul 2024
Reviewer's report:
Addressing the suggestions below will further strengthen the manuscript for publication.
Introduction:
-The introduction does not explicitly outline a theoretical or conceptual framework, which is a
limitation. Including a discussion of relevant theories, such as stress and coping theories or social
support models, would strengthen the theoretical grounding of the research. This framework
could guide the study’s hypotheses and interpretation of results.
-Provide a more detailed literature review: Briefly review key studies to further contextualize
the research problem and highlight the study's unique contribution.
method:
- The method and criteria for determining the sample size (e.g., expected effect size, power level,
and significance level) should be explicitly stated for transparency.
- The manuscript does not detail the specific sampling technique used (e.g., convenience
sampling, random sampling). Clarifying this aspect is essential to understand the
representativeness and generalizability of the findings.
Data Collection Instruments: 1-Marital Adjustment Scale: the manuscript should provide more
details about the scale, including the number of items, response format, and example items.
Information on the scale’s validity and reliability in the specific population should be included.
2-Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS): Similar to the Marital
Adjustment Scale, more detailed information about the MSPSS, including its psychometric
properties in the study population, is necessary.3- Smoking Behavior: The measurement of
smoking behavior (e.g., smoking frequency, duration, intensity) should be described in detail,
including the specific questions or items used to assess this variable.
Data Collection Procedure: the manuscript could benefit from a more detailed description of the
recruitment process, such as how participants were approached and selected.
Statistical Analysis: The manuscript should specify the criteria for including variables in the
regression model (Logistic Regression Analysis) and how multicollinearity was assessed and
handled.
Ethical Considerations: Provide additional details on measures taken to ensure participant
confidentiality and data security.
Results:
Chi-square Tests: The Chi-square test results are used to examine the associations between
categorical variables. The findings are presented clearly, with tables showing the observed
frequencies and expected frequencies. The significance levels are appropriately reported. --
However, the manuscript should also discuss the strength of these associations, such as providing
effect sizes (e.g., Cramér's V).
-The manuscript should include information on the overall fit of the logistic regression model,
such as the Hosmer-Lemeshow test, pseudo R-squared values, or other relevant goodness-of-
fit measures.
-There should be a discussion on how multicollinearity was assessed and addressed, as this can
affect the reliability of the regression coefficients.
-The interpretation of the results is generally clear and concise. However, In addition to statistical
significance, the manuscript should discuss the practical significance of the findings. For
example, how much does a specific predictor increase the likelihood of smoking, and what are
the real-world implications of this? Also, the manuscript should also address non-significant
results and their potential implications, which can provide a more balanced view of the findings.
-Consider including additional visual elements, such as bar charts or forest plots, to enhance the
presentation of the data
Discussion:
-Provide a more detailed discussion of discrepancies with previous research, including potential
reasons for these differences.
-Elaborate on the potential mechanisms and pathways underlying the observed relationships,
providing a deeper theoretical understanding.
-Expand on the suggestions for future research by proposing specific study designs or methods
that could address the limitations of the current study.
-Discuss additional practical implications, such as specific strategies for health practitioners
working with this population.