Traumatic Stress Exposure as a Predictor of Early Tobacco Use: Testing for Cognitive Mediation Effects

• In Event: The ABCD-Social Development Study: Current Findings

Abstract

Prior research has established a link between experiences of traumatic stress early in life and early onset of tobacco use. Given the myriad of health outcomes associated with tobacco use, there is a need to identify mechanisms linking traumatic stress to tobacco use during this period of the life-course. The dual systems model may have a role to play here. This study sought to understand how dual systems model constructs of impulse control and sensation-seeking may mediate the relationship between early-life traumatic stress and tobacco use during childhood and early adolescence.

The first three waves of the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development-Social Development study were analyzed for this study. Generalized structural equation modeling was used to examine direct and indirect effects of interest and determine whether impulse control, sensation-seeking, or both constructs mediate the relationship between early-life traumatic stress and tobacco use risk. Results indicated that greater cumulative traumatic stress scores were associated with increased risk for tobacco use in childhood and early adolescence. This relationship was significantly mediated by impulse control, but not sensation-seeking. These findings indicate the need for early intervention among youth survivors of trauma to improve impulse control in order to avoid early tobacco use.

Author

• Thomas Wojciechowski, Michigan State University