Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2021 Jun;44(3):392-401.
doi: 10.1007/s10865-021-00210-4. Epub 2021 Mar 6.

Anxiety sensitivity, pain severity and co-use of cigarettes and e-cigarettes among adults with chronic pain

Jessica M Powers  1 , Lisa R LaRowe  1 , Emma C Lape  1 , Michael J Zvolensky  2 , Joseph W Ditre  3
Affiliations

Anxiety sensitivity, pain severity and co-use of cigarettes and e-cigarettes among adults with chronic pain

Jessica M Powers et al. J Behav Med. 2021 Jun.

Abstract

Anxiety sensitivity (fear of potential negative consequences of anxiety-related symptoms/sensations) has been identified as a transdiagnostic factor in comorbid pain and nicotine dependence and evidence suggests that anxiety sensitivity may be indirectly associated with nicotine use via greater pain severity. Therefore, this study tested the hypothesis that anxiety sensitivity is associated with cigarette and e-cigarette use/co-use directly and indirectly via greater pain severity. Participants included 273 online survey respondents with chronic musculoskeletal pain (34% female; Mage = 32.9). Anxiety sensitivity was positively associated with cigarette smoking, e-cigarette use and cigarette/e-cigarette co-use (ps < .05). Furthermore, anxiety sensitivity was indirectly and positively associated with cigarette smoking, e-cigarette use and co-use via greater chronic pain severity. Pain severity may play an important role in associations between anxiety sensitivity and nicotine dependence and prospective research should examine temporal/causal effects of anxiety sensitivity in relation to pain severity and nicotine/tobacco use.

Keywords: Anxiety sensitivity; Dual users; Electronic cigarettes; Nicotine; Pain.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Indirect associations of anxiety sensitivity on cigarette and e-cigarette use/co-use via pain severity. Notes: All models covaried for gender, race, age, annual income, daily drinks and anxiety; * p < .05; ** p < .001
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Allan NP, Raines AM, Capron DW, Norr AM, Zvolensky MJ, & Schmidt NB (2014). Identification of anxiety sensitivity classes and clinical cut-scores in a sample of adult smokers: results from a factor mixture model. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 28, 696–703. 10.1016/j.janxdis.2014.07.006 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Ali FRM, Diaz MC, Vallone D, Tynan MA, Cordova J, Seaman EL, & King BA (2020). E-cigarette Unit Sales, by Product and Flavor Type—United States, 2014–2020. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 69, 1313. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Andersson H, Ejlertsson G, & Leden I (1998). Widespread musculoskeletal chronic pain associated with smoking An epidemiological study in a general rural population. Scandinavian Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine., 30, 185–191. - PubMed
    1. Asmundson GJ, Norton PJ, & Veloso F (1999). Anxiety sensitivity and fear of pain in patients with recurring headaches. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 37, 703–713. - PubMed
    1. Avallone KM, & McLeish AC (2015). Anxiety sensitivity as a mediator of the association between asthma and smoking. Journal of Asthma, 52, 498–504. - PubMed

Publication types

LinkOut - more resources