Momentary associations between affect and craving as a function of perceived smoking opportunity in young adults smoking 1–5 cigarettes per day: An ecological momentary assessment study. (1st February 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Huang, Siyuan; Furer, Melinda L.; Smyth, Joshua M.; Wilson, Stephen J.
• Is Part Of: Drug and alcohol dependence. Volume 243(2023)
• Publication Date: 2023-02-01
• Subjects: Smoking -- Very light daily smoking -- Ecological momentary assessment -- Craving -- Valence -- Arousal; Drug abuse -- Periodicals; Alcoholism -- Periodicals; 616.86
• DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2022.109717
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0376-8716

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Very light daily smoking (1–5 cigarettes/day) is associated with adverse consequences and is prevalent among young adults. Evidence suggests that perceived smoking opportunity modulates links between affect and craving in adults with heavier smoking patterns (e.g., > 10 cigarettes per day), but there is a lack of similar data in young adults with very light daily smoking patterns. This study addresses this gap by investigating the associations between affect and craving as a function of perceived smoking opportunity under naturalistic conditions. Methods: Forty-one young adults aged 18–25 ( M= 21.03, SD =1.75) who reported smoking 1–5 cigarettes per day ( M =3.2, SD =1.2) completed intermittent ratings of momentary affective valence and arousal, smoking craving, and perceived smoking opportunity on smartphones five times per day for seven days. Results: Multilevel analyses suggested that when participants felt more pleasant or unpleasant, they were likely to report more intense craving. When smoking opportunity was perceived as high, affective arousal was positively associated with craving; this association was not observed when opportunity to smoke was perceived as low. Conclusions: These findings indicate that higher momentary intensity of affective valence (both negative and positive) is linked to stronger momentary craving in young adults who report very light daily smoking. Anticipating an opportunity to satisfy craving by smoking may strengthen the association between reported affective arousal and craving in this population. These results highlight the potential benefits of coping with craving (e.g., by regulating affect) for those who engage in light tobacco use, especially in environments with high cigarette availability. Highlights: Very light daily smoking young adults rated their momentary affect and craving. When feeling more pleasant or unpleasant than usual, they reported higher craving. With high chance to smoke perceived, arousal positively associated with craving. Such arousal-craving association was absent with low chance to smoke perceived.