Impulsivity and tobacco product use over time

Area of Science:

• Behavioral Psychology
• Addiction Science
• Public Health

Background:

• Impulsivity is linked to cigarette smoking, but its role in novel tobacco product use (e-cigarettes, hookah) requires further longitudinal investigation.
• Understanding the prospective relationship between impulsivity facets and diverse tobacco product consumption patterns is crucial for targeted prevention and intervention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the prospective associations between specific impulsivity components (urgency, sensation seeking, lack of premeditation) and the longitudinal patterns of cigarette, e-cigarette, and hookah tobacco use among young adults.
• To determine if different facets of impulsivity differentially predict changes in the frequency and quantity of tobacco product use over a two-year period.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal study design with 335 young adults (18-24 years) who were non- or never-daily cigarette smokers at baseline.
• Nine online assessments of tobacco product use conducted over two years.
• Longitudinal negative binomial regression models employed to analyze relationships between impulsivity components and tobacco product use frequency and quantity.

Main Results:

• Overall frequency of cigarette, e-cigarette, and hookah use decreased across the study period.
• Higher positive urgency was associated with smaller reductions in cigarette use frequency.
• Higher negative urgency predicted greater cigarette quantity consumed and smaller reductions in hookah use frequency.
• Lack of premeditation was linked to smaller frequency reductions for e-cigarettes and hookah.
• Higher sensation seeking was associated with more frequent e-cigarette use.

Conclusions:

• Impulsivity components differentially predict longitudinal tobacco product use patterns in young adults, suggesting product-specific risk factors.
• Urgency and lack of premeditation may hinder reductions in the use of specific tobacco products, while sensation seeking is linked to increased e-cigarette use.
• Findings highlight the need for tailored interventions addressing specific impulsivity traits for different tobacco products.