INDIVIDUAL-DIFFERENCES IN THE CONTEXT OF SMOKING LAPSE EPISODES

Research on relapse has often focused either on the momentary context of lapses or on stable traits that predict who will relapse. We examin e the relation between the two, analyzing how individual differences r elate to characteristics of initial lapses, which were recorded nearly in real time by 105 smokers using hand-held computers. More nicotine- dependent smokers lapsed under more negative affect and more intense u rges, but they did not smoke more in the initial lapse. Questionnaire measures of negative affect smoking did not predict negative affect la pses. Smokers who lapsed when drinking were less nicotine dependent, b ut they had a history of smoking while drinking, as assessed by comput er monitoring. Smokers who attempted coping but lapsed nevertheless re ported less active coping styles on the Ways of Coping questionnaire. The results demonstrate the interplay between individual traits and co ntextual influences in smoking relapse, and they particularly highligh t the role of nicotine dependence in relation to contextual factors. ( C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.