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. 2021 Apr;116(4):914-925.
doi: 10.1111/add.15238. Epub 2020 Oct 1.

Association of frequency of perceived exposure to discrimination with tobacco withdrawal symptoms and smoking lapse behavior in African Americans

Mariel S Bello  1 , Madalyn M Liautaud  2 , Julianne T De La Cerda  2 , Raina D Pang  2 , Lara A Ray  3 , Jasjit A Ahluwalia  4 , Adam M Leventhal  1   2
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Association of frequency of perceived exposure to discrimination with tobacco withdrawal symptoms and smoking lapse behavior in African Americans

Mariel S Bello et al. Addiction. 2021 Apr.

Abstract

Background and aims: Frequent experiences of discrimination could increase vulnerability to tobacco withdrawal and smoking lapse in populations subject to tobacco-related health disparities. This laboratory study (2013-17) examined whether individual differences in perceived exposure to discrimination in one's daily life predicted tobacco withdrawal symptoms and smoking lapse behavior following acute tobacco deprivation in African American smokers.

Design: Mixed design with the between-subjects continuous variable of perceived discrimination crossed with the within-subject variable of tobacco deprivation status (deprived versus non-deprived).

Setting: Academic medical center in Los Angeles, CA, USA.

Participants: African American non-treatment seeking daily cigarette smokers (n = 607, ≥ 10 cig/day).

Measurements: At a baseline visit, self-reported frequency of perceived exposure to discrimination in one's daily life was measured [everyday discrimination scale (EDDS)]. At two subsequent counterbalanced experimental visits (16-hour tobacco deprivation versus ad-libitum smoking), self-report assessments of various tobacco withdrawal symptom domains [Brief Questionnaire of Smoking Urges), Wisconsin Smoking Withdrawal Scale (WSWS), Profile of Mood States (POMS), Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS) and Current Impulsivity Scale (CIS)) and a behavioral smoking lapse analogue task were measured.

Findings: Adjusted models demonstrated that greater frequency of perceived exposure to discrimination was associated with larger deprivation-induced increases in acute urges to smoke to alleviate negative mood, several negative mood states and subjective cognitive functioning-effect sizes were small in magnitude (βs = 0.09-0.13; Ps < 0.02). Data were inconclusive for associations between perceived exposure to discrimination and deprivation-induced changes in cravings, urges to smoke for pleasure, positive mood reduction, other symptoms or smoking reinstatement behavior.

Conclusions: Frequency of perceived exposure to discrimination appears to be modestly associated with increased severity of some deprivation-induced tobacco withdrawal symptoms in African American smokers.

Keywords: African American smokers; cigarette; cognition; discrimination; mood; smoking; tobacco withdrawal.

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