Department of Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, United States.
Addict Behav. 2013 Mar;38(3):1812-5. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2012.11.004. Epub 2012 Nov 17.
Self-control plays an important role in several health-related behaviors, including cigarette smoking. There is some evidence that individual differences in self-control are negatively associated with overall levels of nicotine dependence but, to our knowledge, finer-grained relationships between these constructs have not been explored. This is an important knowledge gap, as nicotine dependence is thought to be composed of separate dimensions that motivate smoking behavior in relatively unique ways. The goal of this preliminary study was to begin to characterize the potentially nuanced associations between self-control and facets of nicotine dependence using data pooled from two previous studies (n=282). Specifically, we examined the correlation between self-control and the following dimensions of nicotine dependence: compulsion to smoke due to craving and desire to avoid withdrawal symptoms; preference for smoking over other reinforcers; reduced sensitivity to the effects of smoking; consistency of smoking patterns; and smoking behavior that is rigid and immutable. In line with prior research, self-control was negatively correlated with overall levels of dependence. As predicted, however, self-control was differentially associated with distinct dimensions of nicotine dependence. Specifically, self-control was negatively correlated with the compulsion to smoke due to craving and desire to avoid withdrawal symptoms but positively correlated with the consistency of smoking patterns. Given the potential conceptual and clinical importance of such effects, additional research investigating the role(s) that individual differences in self-control play in addiction to cigarettes would be useful.
自我控制在几种与健康相关的行为中起着重要作用，包括吸烟。有一些证据表明，自我控制的个体差异与尼古丁依赖的总体水平呈负相关，但据我们所知，这些结构之间更精细的关系尚未得到探索。这是一个重要的知识空白，因为尼古丁依赖被认为是由不同的维度组成的，这些维度以相对独特的方式激发吸烟行为。本初步研究的目的是使用从两项先前研究（n=282）中汇总的数据，开始描述自我控制与尼古丁依赖各方面之间可能存在细微差别的关联。具体来说，我们研究了自我控制与以下尼古丁依赖维度之间的相关性：由于渴望和避免戒断症状而产生的吸烟冲动；对吸烟的偏好超过其他强化物；对吸烟效果的敏感性降低；吸烟模式的一致性；以及刻板和不可改变的吸烟行为。与先前的研究一致，自我控制与依赖的总体水平呈负相关。然而，正如预期的那样，自我控制与尼古丁依赖的不同维度存在差异关联。具体来说，自我控制与由于渴望和避免戒断症状而产生的吸烟冲动呈负相关，但与吸烟模式的一致性呈正相关。鉴于这种影响的潜在概念和临床重要性，研究个体差异在对香烟成瘾中的作用的进一步研究将是有益的。
