The long-term goal of the program of research of which this proposal is part is the development of tobacco cessation programs targeted at light smokers at greatest risk for progressing to daily smoking. Recent evidence suggests the prevalence of light and intermittent smoking (LITS) has increased dramatically. LITS increases morbidity and mortality, and many intermittent smokers progress to riskier daily smoking. Little is known about factors that are associated with LITS, or that confers risk for transition to daily smoking, or promotes transition to non-smoking. With LITS, smoking behavior may be based on reinforcement rather than alleviation of withdrawal. Most cessation programs are based on a physical dependence model, and may therefore be less effective for non-daily smokers. LITS, as well as use of other nicotine and tobacco products, is most common in younger populations. This proposal is conceptually based in Social Cognitive Theory (SCT), which posits that behavioral decisions are determined by cognitive factors such as self-efficacy, outcome expectancies, and behavioral intentions; these are influenced by the social environment. We hypothesize that changes in smoking patterns will be associated with these constructs and how they change over time. The purpose of the proposed research is to: (1) longitudinally examine LITS stability versus transitions to daily and non-smoking; (2) to test whether the SCT model predicts the probability of smoking stage transitions, (3) to evaluate whether SCT effects are moderated by personality and environmental factors, and (4) to test the hypothesis that use of other nicotine and tobacco products potentiates the risk of progression from LITS to daily smoking. Our goal is to analyze which variables play a role in longitudinal smoking outcomes and to assess mechanisms that explain these effects. The proposed research will lead to a better understanding of mechanisms by which intermittent smokers become daily and non-smokers, and is consistent with President Obama's emphasis on prevention of negative health outcomes. These data may have important implications for prevention and treatment. By identifying risk and protective factors that promote transition to daily and non-smoking, we hope to lay the groundwork for the development of interventions that explicitly target intermittent smokers and their smoking motives.

Public Health Relevance

Recent studies suggest that up to half of US adult smokers are non-daily smokers, but there is insufficient knowledge about how stable this pattern is, or what characteristics are associated with transitioning from non- daily to daily or non-smoking. The purpose of this proposal is to evaluate transition frequency and evaluate characteristics drawn from the Social Cognitive Theory of behavior and use of other tobacco products as predictors of these transitions as a step toward the development of interventions targeted toward those at greatest risk for becoming heavy smokers. We propose to recruit a sample of 500 18-24 year-old light smokers to track smoking patterns and risk and protective factors via 4 annual online and 9 mobile phone assessments over 3 years.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01DA037217-03
Application #
9064175
Study Section
Risk, Prevention and Intervention for Addictions Study Section (RPIA)
Program Officer
Wetherington, Cora Lee
Project Start
2014-09-01
Project End
2019-05-31
Budget Start
2016-06-01
Budget End
2017-05-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2016
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of California San Diego
Department
Psychiatry
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
804355790
City
La Jolla
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
92093
Brikmanis, Kristin; Petersen, Angela; Doran, Neal (2017) E-cigarette use, perceptions, and cigarette smoking intentions in a community sample of young adult nondaily cigarette smokers. Psychol Addict Behav 31:336-342
Brikmanis, Kristin; Petersen, Angela; Doran, Neal (2017) Do personality traits related to affect regulation predict other tobacco product use among young adult non-daily smokers? Addict Behav 75:79-84
Brikmanis, Kristin; Doran, Neal (2017) Hookah tobacco use and stressful life events in a sample of young non-daily cigarette smokers. Addict Behav 64:1-5
Doran, Neal; Brikmanis, Kristin; Petersen, Angela et al. (2017) Does e-cigarette use predict cigarette escalation? A longitudinal study of young adult non-daily smokers. Prev Med 100:279-284
Doran, Neal; Brikmanis, Kristin (2016) Expectancies for and use of e-cigarettes and hookah among young adult non-daily smokers. Addict Behav 60:154-9
Doran, Neal; Trim, Ryan S (2015) Correlates of other tobacco use in a community sample of young adults. Addict Behav 51:131-5