Applying a behavioral economic approach to understanding smoking processes: The indirect effect of past quit experiences

The Cigarette Purchase Tasks (CPT) measures the relative reinforcing value of cigarettes (i.e., cigarette demand). Extant work supports a relation between cigarette demand and smoking dependence and abstinence. However, little work has focused on how demand relates to cognitive processes hindering smoking cessation (i.e., negative affect reduction smoking motives and expectancies, perceived barriers for quitting) or explanatory variables (i.e., negative quit-related experiences) that may underlie such relations. The present study (N=100; 70 % male; Mage=45.34 years, SD=11.02) evaluated the indirect effect of cigarette demand, including intensity (i.e., consumption at zero cost), Omax (i.e., maximum expenditure across prices), and elasticity (i.e., price associated with Omax) on smoking motives, smoking expectancies, and perceived barriers for quitting through negative experiences with past quit attempts. Results indicated statistically significant indirect effects of intensity on negative affect reduction smoking motives (ab=.06, SE=.03, CI95 % [.017,.123]), expectancies for smoking to relieve negative affect (ab=.01, SE=.01, CI95 % [.002,.025], and perceived barriers for quitting (ab=.16, SE=.06, CI95 % [.045,.294]) through past quit challenges. In contrast, Omax and elasticity did not show significant indirect effects, highlighting the uniqueness of intensity relative to Omax and elasticity. Findings suggest intensity may be a useful metric for identifying those at risk for negative quit-related experiences, an important finding given negative experiences are associated with poorer cessation-related outcomes. Future work should replicate and extend these findings across diverse populations and evaluate the temporal relationship between high levels of cigarette demand and cessation related challenges. •Intensity may be useful to identify risk of negative quit-related experiences.•Omax and elasticity show significant direct effects, highlighting intensity's distinct role.•Intensity is positively associated with cognitive-based smoking processes.