Not Only When Feeling Down: The Relationship Between Mood Intensity and Smoking Behavior.

BACKGROUND: There is substantial empirical evidence that negative mood triggers smoking behavior, and less support for the similar effect of positive mood. However, the relationship between the intensity of mood and smoking remains relatively under-researched.

OBJECTIVES: The present study explored the association between mood intensity and smoking behavior.

METHODS: Seventy-three ad libitum smokers recorded their mood and concurrent number of smoked cigarettes three times daily for one week using electronic diary application. Real time assessment in natural environment enabled greater reliability, validity and generalizability of the collected data.

RESULTS: We analyzed results using within-subjects approach and obtained significant growth trend in smoking behavior that concurred with the increase of mood intensity-smokers tended to increase their consumption of cigarettes when they were feeling either happy or sad in comparison to the situation when they were in neutral mood.

IMPORTANCE: These findings raise implications regarding the role of mood intensity in initiating smoking behavior.