Negative affect, emotional acceptance, and smoking cessation
Timothy P Carmody1, Cassandra Vieten, John A Astin
1Health Psychology Program, San Francisco VA Medical Center, CA 94121, USA. Timothy.Carmody@va.gov
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
|February 29, 2008
Summary
Negative affect (NA) and emotion regulation significantly impact nicotine dependence and smoking cessation. Understanding these links can improve interventions for quitting smoking and preventing relapse.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Addiction Science
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Negative affect (NA) is a key factor in nicotine dependence, influencing smoking initiation, maintenance, and relapse.
- Emotion regulation strategies play a crucial role in the relationship between NA and smoking behaviors.
- Existing addiction models often overlook the interplay between affect and regulatory processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review theoretical developments and empirical findings on NA and emotion regulation in nicotine dependence.
- To explore the role of emotion regulation, coping deficits, depression, and anxiety sensitivity in NA-related smoking relapse.
- To examine implications of affect regulation models for smoking cessation interventions.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of affect-based addiction models.
- Analysis of empirical findings on NA and emotion regulation in smoking.
- Synthesis of recent models of affect regulation (e.g., emotional intelligence, acceptance).
Main Results:
- NA and deficits in emotion regulation are linked to smoking initiation, maintenance, and relapse.
- Depression and anxiety sensitivity mediate the NA-smoking relationship.
- Various emotion regulation strategies (reappraisal, suppression, acceptance) have implications for cessation.
Conclusions:
- Further research is needed on individual differences in NA response and nicotine dependence.
- Acceptance-based interventions show promise for smoking cessation and relapse prevention.
- Integrating emotion regulation training into cessation programs is recommended.
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