Distress Intolerance in Relation to Reliance on Cigarettes for Weight, Shape, and Appetite Control

Background Distress intolerance, one’s inability to withstand distressing emotional or physical states, is a transdiagnostic vulnerability implicated in affect-based health behaviors, including cigarette smoking and poor weight control. The current study evaluated associations between distress intol...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of behavioral medicine 2020-04, Vol.27 (2), p.247-254
Main Authors: Burr, Emily K., O’Keeffe, Bailey, Kibbey, Mindy M., Coniglio, Kathryn A., Leyro, Teresa M., Farris, Samantha G.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Appetite
Cigarette smoking
Cigarettes
Family Medicine
Full Length Manuscript
General Practice
Health Psychology
Intolerance
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Nicotine
Regression analysis
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Summary:Background Distress intolerance, one’s inability to withstand distressing emotional or physical states, is a transdiagnostic vulnerability implicated in affect-based health behaviors, including cigarette smoking and poor weight control. The current study evaluated associations between distress intolerance and the reliance on cigarettes for management of weight, appetite, or body dissatisfaction, which may pose a burden for cessation and increase risk of weight-related health problems. Method Daily smokers ( n  = 577) completed an online survey assessing distress tolerance and reliance on cigarettes for weight and shape control with the four subscales of the Smoking and Weight Eating Episodes Test (SWEET). Four hierarchical regression models were constructed to test the association between distress intolerance and SWEET scores, accounting for the effect of relevant covarying factors. Results After adjusting for model covariates, distress intolerance was significantly incrementally associated with greater tendency to rely on cigarettes to suppress appetite ( adjR 2  = .040), prevent overeating ( adjR 2  = .034), cope with body dissatisfaction ( adjR 2  = .046), and cope with nicotine withdrawal–related appetite increases ( adjR 2  = .030). Conclusion Distress intolerance may play an etiological role in maladaptive use of cigarettes to control appetite, weight, and body dissatisfaction among daily smokers, particularly those with weight- or shape-related concerns. Interventions aimed at increasing perceived ability to withstand distress could potentially reduce reliance on cigarettes for the aforementioned purposes.
ISSN:1070-5503
1532-7558
DOI:10.1007/s12529-020-09858-9