Main and interactive effects of emotion dysregulation and breath-holding duration in relation to panic-relevant fear and expectancies about anxiety-related sensations among adult daily smokers

The current study investigated the main and interactive effects of emotion dysregulation and distress tolerance in relation to panic-relevant variables among daily smokers. The sample consisted of 172 adults (61.2% male; Mage = 31.58, SD = 11.51), who reported smoking an average of 15.99 cigarettes per day (SD = 10.00). Results indicated that both emotion dysregulation and distress tolerance were significantly related to interoceptive fear and agoraphobia. Additionally, emotion dysregulation, but not distress tolerance, was significantly related to anxiety sensitivity. All effects were evident above and beyond the variance accounted for by average cigarettes per day, tobacco-related physical illness, and panic attack history. The interaction between emotion dysregulation and distress tolerance significantly predicted interoceptive and agoraphobic fears as well as the cognitive component of anxiety sensitivity. Such findings underscore the importance of emotion dysregulation and distress tolerance in regard to panic-specific fear and expectancies about anxiety-related sensations among daily smokers.

► Both emotion dysregulation and distress tolerance are significantly related to interoceptive fear and agoraphobia.
► Emotion dysregulation, but not distress tolerance, is significantly related to anxiety sensitivity.
► Emotional dysregulation and distress tolerance effects are not attributable to average cigarettes per day, tobacco-related physical illness, and panic attack history.
► The interaction between emotion dysregulation and distress tolerance significantly predicts interoceptive and agoraphobic fears as well as the cognitive component of anxiety sensitivity.