Cigarette smoking and chewing gum: Response to a laboratory-induced stressor

The current study examined the anxiolytic effects of cigarette smoking and chewing gum on urge to smoke, withdrawal, and anxiety in response to a publ ic speaking task in 45 undergraduate smokers. Participants were asked to sm oke, chew gum, or do nothing in response to the stressor. Participants comp leted measures of anxiety, withdrawal symptoms, and urge to smoke pre- and poststressor. The smoke group reported fewer urges to smoke pre- and postst ressor than the other groups. The smoke and gum groups reported fewer withd rawal symptoms than did the control group poststressor. Chewing gum was hel pful in managing levels of withdrawal symptoms compared with the control gr oup. Groups did not differ on measures of anxiety. Results suggest that smo king in response to a stressor may not reduce levels of affective stress. F urthermore, chewing gum may be helpful in managing withdrawal symptoms in r esponse to a stressor.