Delay discounting by the children of smokers and nonsmokers

Brady Reynolds, Kristen Leraas, Christine Collins, Shane Melanko

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

37 Scopus citations

Abstract

This research compared delay discounting in mothers and their children (12 or 13 years of age). Half of the mothers (n = 15) were current smokers, and the other half (n = 15) reported never smoking. Considerable research has shown that adult smokers discount more by delay than nonsmokers, and that parent smoking is a risk factor for adolescent smoking. Thus, it was hypothesized that the mothers who smoked would discount more by delay than the mothers who had never smoked. Also, it was expected that children at increased risk for smoking (i.e., mother is smoker) would discount more by delay than children at lower risk for smoking (i.e., mother is nonsmoker). The results confirmed these hypotheses: mothers who smoked discounted significantly more than nonsmoking mothers; and, in a parallel fashion, children with mothers who smoked discounted significantly more than children of nonsmokers. These findings indicate that delay discounting may be a behavioral risk factor for adolescent cigarette smoking that predates any substantial use of nicotine.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)350-353
Number of pages4
JournalDrug and Alcohol Dependence
Volume99
Issue number1-3
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 2009

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Role of funding source : This research was supported by an internal funding source at the Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. The Research Institute is a nonprofit organization and had no role in the planning and conduct of this research.

Funding

Role of funding source : This research was supported by an internal funding source at the Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. The Research Institute is a nonprofit organization and had no role in the planning and conduct of this research.

FundersFunder number
Nationwide Children’s Hospital

    Keywords

    • Child
    • Delay discounting
    • Human
    • Impulsivity
    • Smoking
    • Tobacco

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Toxicology
    • Pharmacology
    • Psychiatry and Mental health
    • Pharmacology (medical)

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