Affective and Situational Precipitants of Smoking Lapses Among Adolescents

Most adolescent smokers report a desire to quit, and many have made several unsuccessful quit attempts; however, when adolescents attempt to quit, they often resume smoking quickly. This ecological study aimed to (1) characterize affective and situational precipitants of smoking lapses among adolescents and (2) explore the moderating influence of nicotine dependence severity on lapse precipitants.

Adolescent daily smokers (n = 166; ages 14-18 years) completed electronic diaries of cigarettes smoked, craving and affective states, and situational variables on handheld computers in their natural environment for 2 weeks following an unassisted quit attempt. On average, adolescents were moderately nicotine dependent (Modified Fagerström Tolerance Questionnaire [mFTQ] score = 4.9; SD = 1.6).

Craving was a significant episodic cue for lapse and stable influence on lapse, relating to 44% and 15% increased odds of lapse, respectively. High-arousal affective states-regardless of valence-were associated with 12%-13% increased odds of lapse. Low-arousal positive affective states were associated with 17% decreased odds of lapse. A 1-unit difference in a teen's mFTQ score related to 27% increased odds of lapse, but dependence severity did not moderate proximal lapse influences.

This report provides some of the first ecological data characterizing adolescent smoking lapses following a quit attempt. As in prior work with teens, lapses were nearly universal and quickly followed the quit attempt. Specific situational and affective contexts of smoking lapses for adolescents were implicated, indicating the need for cessation interventions to address craving and high-arousal affective states as precipitators of lapse in this high-risk group.

This report provides some of the first ecological data characterizing smoking lapses among teens attempting to quit smoking on their own. Like adults, adolescents face many barriers when making quit attempts. The present work provides ecological data to suggest that the experience of heightened arousal in teens' daily lives interferes with their efforts to quit smoking. Thus, this work highlights the importance of affective dysregulation, or amplitude of emotional feelings, for teen smoking lapses. Moment-to-moment fluctuation in craving was also implicated as a dynamic precipitator of smoking lapse in this high-risk group.