Addictive behaviors
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Addictive behaviors · Oct 2012
Female smokers show lower pain tolerance in a physical distress task.
Numerous studies have established a link between distress tolerance and smoking cessation outcomes. The present study examined whether smoking status affected physical distress tolerance, and considered this question separately for men and women. The sample was comprised of healthy adults, 56 smokers (63% male) and 58 nonsmokers (62% female). ⋯ There were no significant differences in pain threshold or pain perception by smoking status or gender (p>.05). Lower physical distress tolerance could place female smokers at risk for difficulty in quitting smoking. This population needs additional research to better understand their unique pain experience and how physical distress tolerance impacts their smoking cessation outcomes.