Abstract

Background: E-cigarette use has increased exponentially over the past decade, particularly among current combustible cigarette users. Preliminary evidence has demonstrated differences across exclusive and dual e-cigarette/combustible cigarette users, such that dual users represent a more clinically severe group. Yet, the extent to which these groups differ on critical transdiagnostic risk factors that may promote and maintain nicotine dependence, such as anxiety sensitivity and emotional dysregulation has yet to be systematically studied. The purpose of the current study was to examine differences between exclusive e-cigarette users and dual e-cigarette and combustible cigarette users in anxiety sensitivity and both global emotion regulation difficulties as well as within specific emotion regulation difficulty domains. Methods: Participants were 192 exclusive e-cigarette users and 315 dual e-cigarette and combustible cigarette users (52.1% female, Mage = 34.8 years, SD = 11.42). Results: Compared to exclusive e-cigarette users, dual users reported higher anxiety sensitivity, overall emotion regulation difficulties, and specific emotion regulation difficulties related to impulse control and lack of access to effective emotion regulation strategies. There were no group differences in emotion regulation difficulties related to emotional clarity, ability to engage in goal-directed behavior when upset, and emotional non-acceptance. Conclusion: The current data suggest that dual users are an at-risk group in terms of emotional processes. Dual users would likely benefit from targeted intervention efforts focused on reducing anxiety sensitivity and improving emotion regulation in order to reduce nicotine consumption and/or promote cessation.

摘要

背景：电子烟的使用在过去十年中呈指数增长，尤其是在当前的可燃卷烟用户中。初步证据表明，电子烟/可燃卷烟使用者之间存在差异，因此双重使用者代表了临床上更严重的群体。然而，这些群体在可能促进和维持尼古丁依赖的关键跨诊断风险因素（例如焦虑敏感性和情绪失调）方面的差异程度尚待系统研究。本研究的目的是检查单独电子烟用户与双电子烟和可燃香烟用户在焦虑敏感性和全局情绪调节困难以及特定情绪调节困难领域内的差异。方法：参与者为192名纯电子烟用户和315名双电子烟和可燃香烟用户（52.1%女性，法师=34.8岁，SD=11.42）。结果：与独占电子烟用户相比，双用户报告更高的焦虑敏感性、整体情绪调节困难以及与冲动控制相关的特定情绪调节困难和缺乏有效的情绪调节策略。在与情绪清晰度相关的情绪调节困难、心烦意乱时进行目标导向行为的能力以及情绪不接受方面没有组间差异。结论：目前的数据表明，双重用户在情感过程方面是一个处于危险之中的群体。双用户可能会受益于有针对性的干预工作，重点是降低焦虑敏感性和改善情绪调节，以减少尼古丁消耗和/或促进戒烟。