Nicotine dependence, perceived barriers, and affective vulnerability among individuals engaging in dual use who report relapse: Implications for targeted treatment

Abstract

Background: There is little understanding about the behavioral and psychological phenotype profile of individuals engaging in dual use (IEDU; i.e., concurrent use of both combustible cigarettes [CC] and electronic nicotine delivery systems [ENDS]) who relapse when they attempt to quit CC or ENDS.

Aims: The current study examined group differences in dependence, perceived barriers to cessation, and affective vulnerability across quit attempt history for IEDU.

Participants: Participants included 379 (53.0% female; M_age = 37.90 years, SD = 9.67; 90.2% White) adult individuals engaging in CC and ENDS use recruited through an online survey platform.

Design: Analyses were conducted to examine differences in CC and ENDS dependence, barriers to CC and ENDS cessation, anxiety sensitivity, emotional dysregulation, depression, and anxiety across (1) IEDU who had never attempted to quit either, (2) IEDU who reported an unsuccessful CC attempt, and (3) IEDU who reported an unsuccessful attempt to quit both products.

Findings: IEDU who reported an unsuccessful attempt to quit both products (N = 207) reported greater ENDS dependence, more perceived barriers to CC and ENDS cessation, and affective vulnerability relative to those who had never attempted to quit either product (N = 48) and those who reported an unsuccessful quit attempt for a CC product only (N = 124).

Conclusion: The present findings suggest that the behavioral and psychological profile of IEDU may vary as a function of the nature of quit history.

Keywords: Affective vulnerability; Cigarettes; Dual use; Electronic nicotine delivery systems; Nicotine dependence; Smoking; Smoking relapse.