Perceived Stress and Smoking Cessation: The Role of Smoking Urges

María Barroso-Hurtado (), Daniel Suárez-Castro, Carmela Martínez-Vispo, Elisardo Becoña and Ana López-Durán
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María Barroso-Hurtado: Smoking and Addictive Disorders Unit, Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Daniel Suárez-Castro: Smoking and Addictive Disorders Unit, Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Carmela Martínez-Vispo: Smoking and Addictive Disorders Unit, Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Elisardo Becoña: Smoking and Addictive Disorders Unit, Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Ana López-Durán: Smoking and Addictive Disorders Unit, Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 2, 1-11

Abstract: Despite the fact that perceived stress is related to abstinence smoking outcomes, no studies have investigated the mediational effect of specific tobacco-related variables on this relationship. This study aimed to explore the indirect effect of perceived stress on abstinence at the end of treatment through smoking urges. The sample comprised 260 treatment-seeking smokers (58.5% female; Mage = 46.00; SD = 11.1) who underwent psychological smoking cessation treatment. The brief version of the Questionnaire of Smoking Urges (QSU) and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS14) were used. Mediation analyses were conducted in which smoking urges and their dimensions were potential mediators in the relationship between perceived stress and abstinence at the end of treatment. The results showed a non-significant direct effect of perceived stress on abstinence. However, a significant indirect effect was found through smoking urges (QSU-total) and, specifically, through smoking urges associated with the expectation of negative affect relief (QSU-Factor 2). A non-significant indirect effect through smoking urges related to the expectation of tobacco use as a pleasurable experience (QSU-Factor 1) was also found. Analyzing possible mediator variables could contribute to understanding previous conflicting data. These findings point to potential interest in including treatment components targeting perceived stress and smoking urges to improve the effectiveness of smoking cessation treatments.

Keywords: smoking urges; perceived stress; psychological treatment; abstinence (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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