title: Mindfulness predicts lower affective volatility among African Americans during smoking cessation.
abstract: Recent research suggests that mindfulness benefits emotion regulation and smoking cessation. However, the mechanisms by which mindfulness affects emotional and behavioral functioning are unclear. One potential mechanism, lower affective volatility, has not been empirically tested during smoking cessation. This study examined longitudinal associations among mindfulness and emotional responding over the course of smoking cessation treatment among predominantly low-socioeconomic status (SES) African American smokers, who are at high risk for relapse to smoking and tobacco-related health disparities. Participants (N = 399, 51% female, mean age = 42, 48% with annual income <$10,000) completed a baseline measure of trait mindfulness. Negative affect, positive affect, and depressive symptoms were assessed at five time points during smoking cessation treatment (up to 31 days postquit). Volatility indices were calculated to quantify within-person instability of emotional symptoms over time. Over and above demographic characteristics, nicotine dependence, and abstinence status, greater baseline trait mindfulness predicted lower volatility of negative affect and depressive symptoms surrounding the quit attempt and up to 1 month postquit, ps < 0.05. Although volatility did not mediate the association between greater mindfulness and smoking cessation, these results are the first to show that mindfulness is linked to lower affective volatility (or greater stability) of negative emotions during the course of smoking cessation. The present study suggests that mindfulness is linked to greater emotional stability and augments the study of mindfulness in diverse populations. Future studies should examine the effects of mindfulness-based interventions on volatility and whether lower volatility explains effects of mindfulness-based treatments on smoking cessation.
authors: Department of Psychology, Catholic University of America.
authors: Claire E
authors: CE
authors: Adams
authors: Department of Biostatistics, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center.
authors: Minxing
authors: M
authors: Chen
authors: Department of Health Disparities Research, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center.
authors: Lin
authors: L
authors: Guo
authors: Department of Health Disparities Research, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center.
authors: Cho Y
authors: CY
authors: Lam
authors: Department of Health Disparities Research, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center.
authors: Diana W
authors: DW
authors: Stewart
authors: Department of Health Disparities Research, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center.
authors: Virmarie
authors: V
authors: Correa-Fernández
authors: Department of Health Disparities Research, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center.
authors: Miguel A
authors: MA
authors: Cano
authors: Department of Psychological Science, Georgia College & State University.
authors: Whitney L
authors: WL
authors: Heppner
authors: Department of Health Disparities Research, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center.
authors: Jennifer Irvin
authors: JI
authors: Vidrine
authors: Department of Biostatistics, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center.
authors: Yisheng
authors: Y
authors: Li
authors: The Center for Health Equity, University of Minnesota Medical School.
authors: Jasjit S
authors: JS
authors: Ahluwalia
authors: Department of Behavioral Science, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center.
authors: Paul M
authors: PM
authors: Cinciripini
authors: Department of Health Disparities Research, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center.
authors: David W
authors: DW
authors: Wetter
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000502:physiology*; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D064866:Mindfulness; D011203:Poverty / Q000523:psychology*; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000523:psychology*; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000523:psychology