Sex-Specific Link Between Emotional Vulnerability and Poor Weight Control in Cigarette Smokers

Overview

Journal Int J Behav Med

Publisher Informa Healthcare

Date 2018 Nov 2

PMID 30382509

Authors

Samantha G Farris

Bailey J OKeeffe

Ana M Abrantes

Angelo M DiBello

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Cigarette smoking and poor weight control independently and synergistically increase risk for morbidity and mortality. However, few studies have examined the etiological role of emotion-regulatory dysfunction in the link between smoking and poor weight control, as well as the possible moderating role of sex.

Method: Participants (n = 577; M = 44.42; SD = 13.80; 52.7% female) were daily smokers who completed a single survey online through Qualtrics. Emotional vulnerability was indexed by a latent construct comprised of the subscales from the Distress Tolerance Scale (DTS) and the Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3 (ASI-3). A regression model was constructed to examine the relation between emotional vulnerability and poor weight control, measured via body mass index (BMI).

Results: Emotional vulnerability was significantly and positively associated with BMI (b = .08, p = .020). The effect was moderated by sex, such that emotional vulnerability was significantly related to BMI in female smokers (b = .15, p = .002), but not in male smokers (b = .01, p = .806).

Conclusions: Emotional vulnerability appears to be a novel female-specific psychological mechanism related to poor weight control in smokers. Possible limitations are discussed.

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