Browsing by Author "Susabda, Agnes"
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Item Cue reactivity to appetitive and aversive cues among female smokers and non-smokers(2011-02-22) Susabda, AgnesThis study examined the motivational state associated with smoking craving specifically among women and the effect of deprivation and smoking status on the relationship between responses to appetitive cues. Utilizing both psychophysiological (startle EMG, skin conductance) and self-report measures, we compared cue reactivity to positive, neutral, aversive, smoking, and chocolate pictures among groups of 10 hr. smoking deprived smokers, non-deprived smokers, and non-smokers. Smokers responded to smoking cues similar to pleasant affect cues with more inhibited startle and high arousal, while responses from non-smoking females indicated a neutral state. However, deprivation also significantly increased startle responses to smoking cues when compared to non-deprived smokers. Furthermore, a closer look at skin conductance responses to aversive cues suggest that smoking status (deprived and non-deprived groups) significantly inhibited one?s ability to habituate to negative affect stimuli. When responses to chocolate cues were examined, psychophysiological and self-report data seemed to indicate that smoking deprivation influenced one's ability to attend to other appetitive/rewarding cues. Implications of these results on female smoking craving and sensitivity to appetitive cues are discussed.Item Psychophysiological responses to smoking and chocolate cues among female smokers(2009-06-02) Susabda, AgnesInterest in female smoking behaviors has grown due to research that has highlighted gender differences in smoking cessation trends. Specifically, female smokers tend to lag behind men in their success in smoking cessation and are more likely to report weight gain concerns. The first goal of this project is to examine the effect of smoking deprivation on smoking and chocolate cravings. In examining smoking deprivation and cravings, the goal is to also determine the affective motivational system underlying craving. Female cigarette smokers (N = 42) were recruited and randomly assigned to either a 10-hour smoking abstinence group or a control group. We examined both self-reported cravings and startle-eye blink responses to visual smoking and chocolate cues. Our results indicated that smoking and chocolate cravings are appetitive for both abstinent and non-abstinent female smokers. Both the psychophysiological and self-report data also indicate that female smokers who abstain from smoking for a short duration seem to be less sensitive to positive reinforcing stimuli than those who continued to smoke. The implications of these findings are discussed.