Urgency Predicts Differences in Cigarette Consumption

Abstract

Smokers have been classified into three separate groups based on cigarette consumption where regular smokers consume more than 5 cigarettes a day, chippers consume 5 cigarettes a day or less, and social smokers only smoke when they drink alcohol. The current study examined smoking group differences by self-regulation, alcohol use, and alcohol-related problems. Participants (n = 535) completed an online survey. A 3-step multinomial logistic regression was used to analyze the data. When compared to regular smokers, chippers exhibited lower negative urgency (RRR = 0.94, p = .035). Social smokers consumed more alcohol (RRR = 2.37, p < .001), and exhibited lower negative urgency (RRR = 0.93, p = .004) than regular smokers. Compared to chippers, social smokers consumed more alcohol (RRR = 1.71, p = .001). These findings suggest there are notable differences between smoking classes. The results highlight the importance of examining different classes of smokers.