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Affective reactivity to a remote computer-based Trier Social Stress Test during a planned quit attempt: associations
Nicholas N Arce1, Choo P Wee2, Matthew G Kirkpatrick1
1Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 1845 Soto St, Los Angeles, CA, 90032, United States.
Background:
The Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) elicits affective responses and has been linked to smoking behavior. However, its remote use during a planned quit attempt-when stress reactivity may influence early lapse-remains understudied.
Objective:
To quantify affective reactivity to a remotely administered TSST on a planned quit date following overnight abstinence and evaluate associations with cigarette use and lapse within 48 h.
Methods:
This secondary analysis used data from a randomized controlled trial of adult smokers completing a remotely administered TSST following overnight nicotine abstinence. Urge, anxiety, and stress were assessed using visual analog scales and summarized using area under the curve (AUC) metrics. Smoking outcomes included cigarette count and lapse within 48 h. Associations were estimated using generalized estimating equations.
Results:
In adjusted models, anxiety reactivity-but not urge or stress-was associated with cigarette count and lapse. Greater anxiety exposure (AUCtot) and change above baseline (AUCab) were associated with higher cigarette count (IRR=1.0004, 95%CI:1.0002-1.001, p=.002; IRR=1.01, 95%CI: 1.002-1.01, p=.002) and increased odds of lapse (OR=1.001, 95%CI: 1.0001-1.002, p=.03; OR=1.02, 95%CI: 1.001-1.03, p=.03). Effect sizes were small.
Conclusions:
Anxiety reactivity under nicotine deprivation was associated with increased cigarette use and lapse 48 h post quit attempt, suggesting individual differences in stress-evoked anxiety may serve as a behavioral marker for early lapse. Remote TSST administration appears feasible for eliciting affective responses on a quit date.
