Impulsivity related personality traits and cigarette smoking in adults: A meta-analysis using the UPPS-P model of impulsivity and reward sensitivity

Background
Although there is considerable evidence of an association between impulsivity and cigarette smoking, the magnitude of this association varies across studies. Impulsivity comprises several discrete traits that may influence cigarette use in different ways. The present meta-analysis aims to examine the direction and magnitude of relationships between specific impulsivity-related traits, namely lack of premeditation, lack of perseverance, sensation seeking, negative urgency, positive urgency and reward sensitivity and both smoking status and severity of nicotine dependence in adults across studies and to delineate differences in effects across these relationships.

Methods
Ninety-seven studies were meta-analysed using random-effects models to examine the relationship between impulsivity-related traits and smoking status and severity of nicotine dependence. A number of demographic and methodological variables were also assessed as potential moderators.

Results
Smoking status and severity of nicotine dependence were significantly associated with all impulsivity-related traits except reward sensitivity. Lack of premeditation and positive urgency showed the largest associations with smoking status (r = 0.20, r = 0.24 respectively), while positive urgency showed the largest association with severity of nicotine dependence (r = 0.23). Study design moderated associations between lack of premeditation and lack of perseverance and smoking status, with larger effects found in cross-sectional compared to prospective studies.

Conclusions
Finding suggest that impulsivity is associated with an increased likelihood of being a smoker and greater nicotine dependence. Specific impulsivity-related traits differentially relate to smoking status and severity of nicotine dependence. Understanding the complexity of impulsivity-related traits in relation to smoking can help to identify potential smokers and could inform cessation treatment.