Kirsten J Langdon1, Jafar Bakhshaie, Alicia Lopez, Niloofar Tavakoli, Lorra Garey, Amanda M Raines, Brooke Y Kauffman, Norman B Schmidt, Michael J Zvolensky. 1. Department of Psychiatry, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI (KJL); Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI (KJL); Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Houston, TX (JB, AL, NT, LG, BYK, MJZ); Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System, New Orleans, LA (AMR); Department of Psychology, Florida State University, FL (NBS); Department of Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX (MJZ).
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Elevated levels of anxiety sensitivity (AS; fear of anxiety and internal sensations) is highly common among adults who smoke, and contributes to several maladaptive smoking beliefs and behaviors. AS is comprised of 3 empirically established factors, relating to fears of social concerns, fears of physical symptoms, and fears of cognitive dyscontrol. Relatively few studies have examined how these 3 subscales pertain to smoking processes. The aim of the present investigation was to examine, among treatment-seeking adults who smoke, the interactive effects of AS-physical and cognitive concerns in relation to: perceived barriers to smoking cessation; smoking-related negative reinforcement expectancies; and smoking-related avoidance and inflexibility. METHODS:Participants included 470 adults who smoke (47.8% female; mean age 37.2, SD 13.5), who were recruited to participate in a smoking-cessation treatment study. At the baseline assessment, participants completed self-report measures, including the Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3, Barriers to Cessation Scale, Smoking Consequences Questionnaire, and Avoidance and Inflexibility Scale. RESULTS: Results indicated that after controlling for the effects of sex, cigarette dependence, alcohol problems, tobacco-related medical illness, current axis 1 disorder, and AS-social concerns, a significant interaction emerged, such that the association between AS-cognitive concerns and the studied smoking-based cognitions were stronger among lower levels of AS-physical concerns (but not higher physical concerns). CONCLUSIONS: The current findings suggest that it may be beneficial to provide specialized smoking-cessation interventions for certain subgroups of adults who smoke, such as those with different AS profiles, to promote healthier beliefs about quitting.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVES: Elevated levels of anxiety sensitivity (AS; fear of anxiety and internal sensations) is highly common among adults who smoke, and contributes to several maladaptive smoking beliefs and behaviors. AS is comprised of 3 empirically established factors, relating to fears of social concerns, fears of physical symptoms, and fears of cognitive dyscontrol. Relatively few studies have examined how these 3 subscales pertain to smoking processes. The aim of the present investigation was to examine, among treatment-seeking adults who smoke, the interactive effects of AS-physical and cognitive concerns in relation to: perceived barriers to smoking cessation; smoking-related negative reinforcement expectancies; and smoking-related avoidance and inflexibility. METHODS:Participants included 470 adults who smoke (47.8% female; mean age 37.2, SD 13.5), who were recruited to participate in a smoking-cessation treatment study. At the baseline assessment, participants completed self-report measures, including the Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3, Barriers to Cessation Scale, Smoking Consequences Questionnaire, and Avoidance and Inflexibility Scale. RESULTS: Results indicated that after controlling for the effects of sex, cigarette dependence, alcohol problems, tobacco-related medical illness, current axis 1 disorder, and AS-social concerns, a significant interaction emerged, such that the association between AS-cognitive concerns and the studied smoking-based cognitions were stronger among lower levels of AS-physical concerns (but not higher physical concerns). CONCLUSIONS: The current findings suggest that it may be beneficial to provide specialized smoking-cessation interventions for certain subgroups of adults who smoke, such as those with different AS profiles, to promote healthier beliefs about quitting.
Authors: Julia D Buckner; Samantha G Farris; Michael J Zvolensky; Sonia M Shah; Adam M Leventhal; Jennifer A Minnix; Norman B Schmidt Journal: Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse Date: 2014-11-14 Impact factor: 3.829
Authors: Jasper A J Smits; Michael J Zvolensky; Michelle L Davis; David Rosenfield; Bess H Marcus; Timothy S Church; Mark B Powers; Georita M Frierson; Michael W Otto; Lindsey B Hopkins; Richard A Brown; Scarlett O Baird Journal: Psychosom Med Date: 2016-04 Impact factor: 4.312