Can attitudes about smoking impact cigarette cravings?
Lauren Bertin1, Samara Lipsky2, Joel Erblich3
1City University of New York, Hunter College, New York, NY, United States.
Addictive Behaviors
|September 17, 2017
Summary
Smokers with more positive views on smoking consequences experience stronger cigarette cravings. Understanding these attitudes may improve smoking cessation interventions.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Psychology
- Addiction Science
- Cognitive Neuroscience
Background:
- Cigarette cravings are key drivers of smoking behavior and relapse.
- Individual differences in craving intensity are well-documented.
- The influence of attitudes on craving experiences remains an area for exploration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between smokers' attitudes toward smoking consequences and their experienced cigarette cravings.
- To test the hypothesis that more favorable attitudes predict greater craving intensity.
Main Methods:
- 103 daily smokers participated in the study.
- Participants imagined smoking, stress, and neutral scenarios, with cravings measured before and after.
- An abridged Smoking Consequence Questionnaire (SCQ) assessed perceived desirability and likelihood of negative smoking outcomes.
Main Results:
- Favorable attitudes towards smoking consequences, specifically the SCQ-desirability index, significantly predicted higher cigarette cravings.
- This suggests a direct link between cognitive appraisal of smoking outcomes and craving intensity.
Conclusions:
- Individual attitudes regarding smoking consequences are significant predictors of cigarette craving.
- These findings may inform the development of targeted cognitive and attitude-based interventions for smoking cessation.
Related Concept Videos
01:17Drug Dependence
1.8K
Medications are typically administered to achieve therapeutic effects. Some drugs can modify an individual's mood and perception, frequently resulting in various enjoyable experiences. However, this can result in drug dependency, a condition marked by continuous drug use despite potential negative consequences. Drug dependency primarily falls into two categories: psychological and physical dependence. Psychological dependence occurs when the pleasurable feelings induced by the drug...
1.8K
01:29Stimulants
1.1K
Stimulants are substances that enhance neural activity and elevate dopamine levels in the brain, leading to their highly addictive nature. These drugs include cocaine, amphetamines, MDMA, caffeine, and nicotine, each with distinct mechanisms of action and varied health implications.
Cocaine can be administered via snorting, injection, or smoking. It primarily functions by blocking the reuptake of dopamine, resulting in a euphoric high characterized by an intense sensation of happiness and...
Cocaine can be administered via snorting, injection, or smoking. It primarily functions by blocking the reuptake of dopamine, resulting in a euphoric high characterized by an intense sensation of happiness and...
1.1K
01:54Attitudes
33.2K
Attitude is our evaluation of a person, an idea, or an object. We have attitudes for many things ranging from products that we might pick up in the supermarket to people around the world to political policies. Typically, attitudes are favorable or unfavorable: positive or negative (Eagly & Chaiken, 1993). And, they have three components: an affective component (feelings), a behavioral component (the effect of the attitude on behavior), and a cognitive component (belief and knowledge;...
33.2K
01:26Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques IV
283
Stress often leads to unhealthy habits like smoking, excessive drinking, and overeating, which offer short-term relief but ultimately increase long-term health risks. These behaviors create a cycle that temporarily lowers stress levels but can result in severe long-term health consequences. Breaking these habits is essential to reduce the risk of chronic diseases and improve overall well-being. Three primary changes that support better health include quitting smoking, reducing alcohol intake,...
283
01:23Drugs Acting on Autonomic Ganglia: Stimulants
2.2K
Ganglionic stimulants activate NM nicotinic receptors in autonomic ganglia, falling into two categories: nicotine mimetics [e.g., lobeline, dimethylpiperazine, tetramethylammonium] and muscarinic receptor agonists [e.g., muscarine, methacholine]. The first category's action is rapid and blocked by nicotinic receptor antagonists, while the second category's action is delayed and blocked by atropine-like agents. Nicotine, an alkaloid, affects the heart rate by stimulating...
2.2K
01:29The Influence of Cognition on Affect
253
Cognition plays a pivotal role in shaping emotional experiences, as demonstrated by Schachter and Singer’s two-factor theory of emotion. According to this model, emotion arises from a combination of physiological arousal and cognitive interpretation. The body’s physiological response to stimuli is ambiguous and only gains emotional significance through cognitive labeling. For instance, an increased heart rate and adrenaline surge while standing near an attractive person may be...
253