Date of Award

2011-01-01

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Department

Psychology

Advisor(s)

Theodore V. Cooper

Abstract

Tobacco use is considered the single most preventable cause of disease, disability, and death in the nation. According to cue-reactivity models, environmental stimuli associated with smoking may elicit cravings in smokers. Antismoking advertisements, may also elicit cravings in smokers because of unintentional use of smoking cues, which may promote smoking maintenance and hinder quitting attempts. The purpose of this study is to assess if cue-reactivity elicits cravings in light and intermittent smokers and if impulsivity serves as a moderator. Data from 155 participants who reported smoking at least once in the past week to 10 cigarettes per day were collected. The mean age of participants was 20.96 years of age (SD = 4.14), 52.3% were female, and 82.6% self-identified as Hispanic. Measures include a demographic questionnaire, a tobacco use behavior and attitude survey, the Fagerström Test of Nicotine Dependence, the Questionnaire of Smoking Urges-Brief, and the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale. Participants were exposed to one of three conditions (i.e., smoking, antismoking, and neutral). Univariate analysis showed that smoking stimuli produced higher cravings relative to antismoking (p = .007) and neutral stimuli (p = .019), while no differences between antismoking and neutral stimuli were observed (p = .793). Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that gender (β = .100, p = .028) and baseline cravings (β = .762, p < .001) were significant predictors of cravings. Additionally, a moderation model evidenced that impulsivity moderates cravings, especially in the smoking stimuli condition. Some implications stemming from this study are the further regulation of smoking advertisements and the inclusion of smoking cues in strong antismoking advertisements.

Language

en

Provenance

Received from ProQuest

File Size

78 pages

File Format

application/pdf

Rights Holder

Francisco Isaac Salgado-Garcia

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