Dynamic Associations of Negative Mood and Smoking Across the Development of Smoking in Adolescence

Abstract

Self-medication models of smoking posit that the emotional benefits of smoking reinforce and maintain cigarette use, yet research demonstrates both positive and adverse affective consequences of smoking. The current study examined longitudinal changes in adolescent mood variability and overall negative mood at various stages of smoking behavior to inform understanding of the etiology of adolescent smoking. Participants included 461 adolescents (M age = 15.67 years, SD = 0.61; 55% girls, 56.8% White) drawn from a longitudinal study of adolescent smoking. Youth provided data on smoking behavior at baseline and a 15-month follow-up wave. Ecological momentary assessments were used to measure overall levels of negative mood as well as within-person mood fluctuations (i.e., negative mood variability) at each wave. Findings revealed that smoking–mood relations vary across different stages of smoking behavior. Youth who rapidly escalated in their smoking during the study experienced improved mood regulation (for girls) and improved overall mood (for boys) as smoking increased. However, mood improvements were not observed among youth with sustained heavy use and symptoms of dependence. The current data argue for a model of smoking that accounts for changes in risk and maintenance factors at different points along the developmental trajectory of smoking, involving elements of both self-medication and dependence.

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by National Cancer Institute Grant 5 P01 CA099262.

Notes

Note: Within each smoking measure at each time point, mean values with shared alphabetic superscripts signify nonsignificant pairwise comparisons; all other pairwise comparisons were significant at p < .05. Smoke frequency = no. of days smoked in the past month; Quantity = no. of cigarettes smoking on days smoked in the past month; mFTQ = Modified Fagerstrom Tolerance Questionnaire; 7-day Smoke Rate = no. of cigarettes/day during assessment week; EMA Smoking = no. of smoke reports recorded on EMA device; Smoking Identity = Smoking Identity Scale.

Note: NA = Negative Affect Scale–EMA; NA Mood Variability = intraindividual standard deviations of Negative Affect Scale; Smoking Frequency = no. of days smoked (past 30 days)—continuous measure; Smoking Quantity = no. of cigarettes on days smoked (past 30 days)—continuous measure; mFTQ = Modified Fagerstrom Tolerance Questionnaire.

For comparison of girls versus boys: *p < .05. **p < .01. ***p < .001.

Note: Effect sizes for Group × Time effects calculated via Cohen's d. Contrast 1 = triers/experimenters vs. rapid escalators; Contrast 2 = smokers vs. rapid escalators; Contrast 3 = nonsmokers vs. smokers; Observations = no. of mood reports examined.

Note. Effect sizes for Group × Time effects calculated via Cohen's d. Contrast 1 = triers/experimenters vs. rapid escalators; Contrast 2 = smokers vs. rapid escalators; Contrast 3 = nonsmokers vs. smokers; Observations = no. of mood reports examined.