Characteristics associated with perceived interrelations of pain and smoking among people living with HIV

Persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH) have very high prevalences of both cigaret smoking and pain, yet little is known about the relationship between smoking and pain for PLWH. The current study examines the perceived interrelations between pain and smoking and participant characteristics (i.e., demographics, heavier versus lighter smoking, current pain severity, depression, anxiety symptoms) in a sample of 101 current cigaret smoking adult PLWH in the Bronx, New York. Participants completed assessments of demographics, smoking behaviors, psychiatric symptoms, and pain severity. Interrelations of pain and smoking were measured using the 9-item Pain and Smoking Inventory (PSI) total score and three domain scores (pain as a motivator for smoking, smoking to cope with pain, and pain as a barrier for smoking cessation). Significant associations were found between greater current pain severity and greater endorsement of overall perceived interrelations between pain and smoking, pain as a motivator for smoking, and smoking to cope with pain. Greater anxiety symptoms were significantly associated with greater endorsement of overall perceived interrelations between pain and smoking, pain as a motivator for smoking, and smoking to cope with pain. Understanding the perceived relations between smoking and pain, as well as associated factors such as anxiety and pain severity, may help to guide interventions for PLWH who smoke in order to reduce the high prevalence of smoking and significant smoking-related health consequences.