Effect of Suppressing Thoughts of Desire to Smoke on Ratings of Desire to Smoke and Tobacco Withdrawal Symptoms

Abstract

Studies indicate that while suppressing smoking thoughts increases subsequent smoking, it may have no impact on desire to smoke. However, previous research has examined suppression of general smoking thoughts rather than thoughts specifically related to desire to smoke. The present study investigated whether suppression of thoughts of desire to smoke results in subsequently elevated ratings of desire to smoke. An experimental study examined the effects of suppressing thoughts of desire to smoke, versus expressing thoughts of desire to smoke, versus a control group thinking about anything, on ratings of desire to smoke and tobacco withdrawal symptoms at four time points (before manipulations, just after manipulations, 5 min after, 10 min after). In addition, effects of suppressing thoughts of desire to smoke on subsequent reports of thoughts of desire to smoke were examined. Suppressing the thoughts of desire to smoke caused thought rebound (i.e., greater subsequent reports of thoughts of desire to smoke). However, compared with control groups, this suppression did not elevate subsequent ratings of desire to smoke. Suppressing the thoughts of desire to smoke does not elevate subsequent ratings of this desire. Increased cigarette consumption following suppression of smoking thoughts may be mediated by mechanisms other than increased desire to smoke.

The frequency of involuntary autobiographical memories and future thoughts in relation to daydreaming, emotional distress, and age

“…This can be seen as consistent with research on mindfulness, commonly defined as “the state of being attentive to, and aware of, what is taking place in the present” (Brown & Ryan, 2003, p. 822). Previous research has shown positive associations between mindfulness and well-being, beneficial effects of mindfulness training on mental health (e.g., see Brown & Ryan, 2003, for a review), and negative correlations between mindfulness and thought suppression (e.g., Baar, Smith, Hopkins, Krietemeyer, & Toney, 2006; Erskine, Rawaf, Grice & Ussher, 2015; Erskine, Ussher, Cropley, Elgindi, Zaman & Corlett, 2012). …”

Ageing and thought suppression performance: Its relationship with working memory capacity, habitual thought suppression and mindfulness

“…The other associated variables were included for the following reasons. Firstly research has indicated that dispositional mindfulness and the use of thought suppression are negatively correlated, meaning that more mindful individuals report using thought suppression less frequently (see Erskine, Ussher, Cropley, Elgindi, Zaman, & Corlett, 2012;Erskine, Rawaf, Grice, & Ussher, 2015). Secondly, as individuals often improve on a domain with repeated practice (Logan, & Klapp, 1991) the extent to which one reports intrusions during active suppression may be linked to how frequently one uses thought suppression in everyday life.…”