Effects of Expectancies and Coping on Pain-Induced Motivation to Smoke

The prevalence of tobacco smoking among persons with recurrent pain is approximately twice that observed in the general population.

Smoking has been associated with the development and exacerbation of several chronically painful conditions.

Conversely, there is both experimental and cross-sectional evidence that pain is a potent motivator of smoking.

A recent study provided the first evidence that laboratory-induced pain could elicit increased craving and produce shorter latencies to smoke (Ditre & Brandon, 2008).

To further elucidate interrelations between pain and smoking, and to identify potential targets for intervention, the current study tested whether several constructs derived from social-cognitive theory influence the causal pathway between pain and increased motivation to smoke.

Smokers (N = 132) were randomly assigned to one of four conditions in this 2 X 2 between-subjects experimental design.

Results indicated that manipulations designed to (a) challenge smoking-related outcome expectancies for pain reduction, and (b) enhance pain-related coping, each produced decreased urge ratings and increased latencies to smoke, relative to controls.