Sex differences in smoking cue reactivity: craving, negative affect, and preference for immediate smoking.
OBJECTIVE
Female smokers have greater difficulty quitting, possibly due to increased reactivity to smoking-related cues. This study assessed sex differences in craving, affect, and preference for immediate smoking after cue exposure.


METHODS
Regular smokers (n = 60; 50% female) were exposed to smoking and neutral cues in separate, counterbalanced sessions. Outcomes included changes in craving and affect and preference for immediate smoking following cue exposure.


RESULTS
Findings indicated that women exhibited greater preference for immediate smoking (p = .004), and reported greater cue-induced increases in cigarette craving (p = .046) and negative affect (p = .025).


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest that women may have greater difficulty inhibiting smoking after cue exposure, possibly as a consequence of greater increases in craving and negative affect.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings suggest a mechanism that may contribute to greater cessation failure among female smokers.
Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, California.
Neal
N
Doran
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D000368:Aged; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000523:psychology*; D066249:Craving; D003463:Cues; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult