A Preliminary Examination of Reward Processing and Loneliness in Cigarette Smokers

Loneliness is associated with a broad range of mental and physical health outcomes, including higher rates of substance use. However, the mechanisms underpinning this association remain unclear. Acute nicotine exposure can increase response to reward, but chronic exposure may reduce response <i>via</i> withdrawal. This could theoretically impact pursuit and engagement with nonsmoking rewards, including social interaction. The purpose of this study was to conduct a preliminary examination of the relationship between reward and loneliness among people who smoke cigarettes. Participants (<i>N</i> = 85) completed questionnaires on reward processing tendencies (i.e., anticipation and consummation), environmental reward availability, and loneliness. Unadjusted analyses revealed negative correlations between all reward measures and loneliness (<i>p</i>’<i>s</i> &lt; 0.05). In adjusted analyses, anticipatory (but not consummatory) reward processing was negatively associated with loneliness, and this effect was partially explained by an indirect effect through environmental reward availability. These results suggest anticipatory reward processing may play a particularly important role in loneliness among people who smoke cigarettes. Further research explicating the direct impact of chronic nicotine use on anticipatory reward processing and interventions targeting reward processing for this population is warranted.