Nicotine & Tobacco Research Advance Access originally published online on July 1, 2009
Nicotine & Tobacco Research 2009 11(9):1047-1054; doi:10.1093/ntr/ntp098
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Relations between anhedonia and smoking motivation
Adam M. Leventhal, Ph.D., Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Brown University, Providence, RI
Andrew J. Waters, Ph.D., Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD
Christopher W. Kahler, Ph.D., Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Brown University, Providence, RI
Lara A. Ray, Ph.D., Department of Psychology, University of California Los Angeles, CA
Steve Sussman, Ph.D., Departments of Preventive Medicine and Psychology, Institute for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research, University of Southern California, Alhambra, CA
Corresponding Author: Adam M. Leventhal, Ph.D., Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Brown University, Box G-S121-4, Providence, RI 02912, USA. Telephone: 713-305-4280; Fax: 832-553-7714; E-mail: adam_leventhal{at}brown.edu
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Abstract |
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Introduction: A growing literature suggests that anhedonia—an affective dimension related to the inability to experience pleasure—is associated with poor smoking cessation outcomes. Despite these findings, research of the motivational mechanisms linking anhedonia and smoking has been limited. Accordingly, the present study examined (a) relationships between anhedonia and motivationally relevant smoking characteristics and (b) whether anhedonia moderated the effects of tobacco deprivation on appetitive and aversive aspects of smoking urges.
Methods: Smokers (N = 212; 
5 cigarettes/day) first attended a baseline session during which measures of anhedonia and smoking characteristics were completed. Prior to a subsequent experimental session, a portion of participants were randomized to one of two groups: (a) 12-hr tobacco deprivation before the session (n = 51) and (b) ad libitum smoking (n = 69).
Results: Smokers with higher levels of anhedonia reported a greater number of past failed quit attempts and a higher proportion of quit attempts that ended in rapid relapse within 24 hr, rs > .20, ps < .05. Anhedonia did not consistently correlate with smoking heaviness, chronicity, and dependence motives. Anhedonia significantly moderated the influence of tobacco deprivation on appetitive smoking urges, such that deprivation effects on appetitive urges were stronger in high anhedonia smokers (β = .64) than in low anhedonia smokers (β = .23). Anhedonia did not moderate deprivation effects on aversive smoking urges. This pattern of results remained robust when controlling for baseline negative affect.
Discussion: These findings elucidate anhedonia’s link with smoking relapse and could be useful for developing cessation interventions for anhedonic smokers.
Received: January 28, 2009; Accepted: April 13, 2009
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