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Published on: August 6, 2013
Do people serve as cues to smoke?
Cynthia A Conklin1, Ronald P Salkeld, Kenneth A Perkins
1Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA.
Summary
People can act as smoking cues, increasing craving. Conversely, individuals associated with not smoking can reduce cravings, offering a protective effect for smokers. This impacts smoking cessation strategies.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Behavioral Science
- Addiction Research
Background:
- Environmental cues can trigger smoking cravings.
- The study investigates if people can also act as smoking cues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if individuals can function as direct cues for smoking-induced craving.
- To assess the impact of social cues on smokers' craving.
Main Methods:
- 72 smokers photographed people they smoke with (PS) and don't smoke with (PN).
- Compared self-report and physiological responses to personal (PS, PN) and standard (SS, SN) photos.
Main Results:
- People regularly smoked with (PS) elicited craving, negative affect, and excitement.
- People not smoked with (PN) were associated with reduced craving and increased calm.
Conclusions:
- Social environment significantly influences smoking cues and craving.
- Findings suggest managing social interactions can aid smoking cessation.
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