Perceived smoking availability differentially affects mood and reaction time.
BACKGROUND
This between subjects study explored the relationship between smoking availability and smoking motivation and is the first study to include three smoking availability time points. This allowed for an examination of an extended period of smoking unavailability, and a test of the linearity of the relationships between smoking availability and smoking motivation measures.


METHODS
Ninety 3-hour abstinent smokers (mean ~15 cigarettes per day) were randomly assigned to one of three availability manipulations while being exposed to smoking stimuli (i.e., pack of cigarettes): smoke in 20 min, smoke in 3 h, or smoke in 24 h. Participants completed pre- and post-manipulation measures of urge, positive affect and negative affect, and simple reaction time.


RESULTS
The belief that smoking would next be available in 24 h resulted in a significant decrease in positive affect and increase in negative affect relative to the 3 h and 20 min conditions. A Lack of Fit test suggested a linear relationship between smoking availability and affect. A quadratic model appeared to be a better fit for the relationship between smoking availability and simple reaction time with participants in the 24 h and 20 min conditions showing a greater slowing of reaction time relative to the 3 h condition. There were no effects of the manipulations on self-reported urge, but baseline ceiling effects were noted.


CONCLUSIONS
Future investigations that manipulate three or more periods of time before smoking is available will help to better elucidate the nature of the relationship between smoking availability and smoking motivation.
American University, Department of Psychology, 4400 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington D.C. 20016, USA.
Kathryn C
KC
Ross
American University, Department of Psychology, 4400 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington D.C. 20016, USA. Electronic address: juliano@american.edu.
Laura M
LM
Juliano
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D011897:Random Allocation; D011930:Reaction Time; D012907:Smoking / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
Cognitive interference; Drug use opportunity; Negative affect; Positive affect; Smoking availability; Urge