Aims: This study prospectively tested the hypothesis that changes in momentary affect, abstinence motivation, and confidence would predict lapse risk over the next 12-48 hours using Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) data from smokers attempting to quit smoking. The moderating effects of high-risk contexts on relations between cognitions (motivation and confidence) and lapse risk were also tested. Method: 79 adult, daily smokers recorded their momentary affect, motivation to quit, abstinence confidence, and smoking behaviors in near real time with multiple EMA reports using electronic diaries post-quit. Results: Multilevel models indicated that increases in negative affect predicted greater lapse risk up to 12 hours, but not 24 hours later. Neither positive nor negative affect had significant effects on subsequent cognitions. High levels of motivation appeared to reduce increases in lapse risk that occur over hours. Momentary increases in confidence predicted greater lapse risk over 12 hours in high-risk situations, but not in the absence of potent smoking triggers. Conclusion: Momentary changes in negative affect, motivation, and confidence, during a quit attempt all had short-term effects on smoking lapse. Negative affect had short-lived effects on lapse risk, whereas high levels of motivation protected against the risk of lapsing that accumulates over hours. Contrary to expectations, an acute increase in confidence may increase vulnerability to lapse in the context of potent smoking triggers. Relations observed among affect, cognitions, and lapse seem to depend critically on the timing of assessments and the contexts in which the assessments occur.
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Psychology
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Rutgers University Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Rutgers University. Graduate School - New Brunswick
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Author Agreement License
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