Black Cigarette Smokers Report More Attention to Smoking Cues Than White Smokers: Implications for Smoking Cessation

Abstract

Introduction: Black cigarette smokers have lower rates of smoking cessation compared with Whites. However, the mechanisms underlying these differences are not clear. Many Blacks live in communities saturated by tobacco advertisements. These cue-rich environments may undermine cessation attempts by provoking smoking. Moreover, attentional bias to smoking cues (attention capture by smoking cues) has been linked to lower cessation outcomes. Cessation attempts among Blacks may be compromised by attentional bias to smoking cues and a cue-rich environment. Method: Attention to smoking cues in Black and White smokers was examined in 2 studies. In both studies, assessments were completed during 2 laboratory visits: a nonabstinent session and an abstinent session. In study 1, nontreatment-seeking smokers (99 Whites, 104 Blacks) completed the Subjective Attentional Bias Questionnaire (SABQ; a self-report measure of attention to cues) and the Smoking Stroop task (a reaction time measure of attentional bias to smoking cues). In study 2, 110 White and 74 Black treatment-seeking smokers completed these assessments and attempted to quit. Results: In study 1, Blacks reported higher ratings than Whites on the SABQ (p = .005). In study 2, Blacks also reported higher ratings than Whites on the SABQ (p = .003). In study 2, Blacks had lower biochemical-verified point prevalence abstinence than Whites, and the between-race difference in outcome was partially mediated by SABQ ratings. Conclusion: Blacks reported greater attention to smoking cues than Whites, possibly due to betweenrace differences in environments. Greater attention to smoking cues may undermine cessation attempts.

Effect of attentional retraining on cognition, craving, and smoking in African American smokers.

“…Self-reported attentional bias was assessed with the Subjective Attentional Bias Questionnaire (SABQ), an eight-item questionnaire that assesses the extent to which participants notice that their attention is captured by cigarettes and smoking cues (Leventhal et al, 2007;Robinson et al, 2015). In the current sample, Cronbach’s alpha for the SABQ was: visit 1) α = .90; visit 2) α = .88; and visit 3) α =.91.…”

“…abstinent vs. smoking conditions). In study 2, the between race difference in smoking cessation was partially mediated by self-reported attentional bias (Robinson et al, 2015). There is also evidence that African Americans have enhanced brain activation compared to Whites in response to smoking vs. neutral cues in the medial prefrontal cortex, and right lateral orbitofrontal cortex (Okuyemi et al, 2006).…”

Interventions to Reduce Tobacco-Related Health Disparities

“…The final four papers in this themed issue focus on intervention issues of relevance to specific ethnic groups in the United States and as well as at-risk populations abroad. First, Robinson and colleagues 22 describe results from two US studies that suggest that black smokers report attending more to smoking cues than white smokers. Results provide support for a potential mechanism underlying tobacco-related health disparities among black smokers, who tend to reside in cue rich environments.…”

May I have your attention, please? Methodological and analytical flexibility in the addiction stroop

“…46 À .89). Other studies have demonstrated different estimates of internal reliability (Robinson et al 2015;Spanakis et al 2019), however most do not report reliability despite its integral role in effect estimates and reproducibility (Baugh 2002).…”