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The association between neurocognitive functioning and smoking in adolescence: the TRAILS study
Zeena Harakeh1, Leo de Sonneville, Regina J J M van den Eijnden
1Interdisciplinary Social Science, Utrecht University, 3508 TC Utrecht, the Netherlands. Z.Harakeh@uu.nl
Neuropsychology
|July 11, 2012
Summary
Poor neurocognitive functioning, specifically sustained attention and inhibition, predicts adolescent smoking initiation and daily use. However, these cognitive factors explain only a small portion of smoking risk in teens.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Adolescent Psychology
- Public Health
Background:
- Adolescent smoking remains a significant public health concern.
- Understanding predictors of smoking initiation and maintenance is crucial for prevention efforts.
- The role of neurocognitive functioning in adolescent smoking behavior requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between neurocognitive functioning and tobacco smoking in adolescents.
- To determine if specific neurocognitive deficits predict smoking initiation and daily smoking in a longitudinal cohort.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study of 1,797 Dutch adolescents (Tracking Adolescents' Individual Lives Survey - TRAILS).
- Neurocognitive functioning assessed using Amsterdam Neuropsychological Tasks at age 11.
- Smoking behavior assessed via self-report questionnaires at three time points (ages 11, 13, and 15-17).
- Multivariate logistic regression analyses controlled for gender, age, socioeconomic status, and baseline speed.
Main Results:
- Poor sustained attention was associated with increased likelihood of smoking initiation between T1 and T2.
- Low inhibition of prepotent responses predicted smoking initiation between T1 and T3.
- Improved inhibition of biased response tendencies reduced the likelihood of daily smoking at T2.
- Poor sustained attention increased the likelihood of daily smoking at T3.
Conclusions:
- Neurocognitive factors, including sustained attention and inhibition, are significant predictors of adolescent smoking.
- These neurocognitive predictors account for a small proportion of the variance in smoking risk.
- While neurocognitive functioning is related to adolescent smoking, it explains only a minor part of the initiation and continuation of smoking behavior.
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