DELAYED GRATIFICATION AND ATTACHMENT STYLES AMONG YOUNG ADULTS WITH SMOKING URGES

Abstract

The present study examined the intricate relationship between delayed gratification and attachment styles, and investigated their influence on smoking urges, among a sample of 80 young adults (40 male and 40 female), between the ages 18-25 years. Employing a two-group correlational design, the participants completed an online, self-report-based survey, comprising of the Delayed Gratification Inventory, Adult Attachment Scale and Questionnaire on Smoking Urges-Brief. Findings suggested that a moderately negative, significant correlation existed between Delayed Gratification and Smoking Urges in Female young adults . However, this association was not statistically significant for male young adults . Furthermore, close, dependent and anxious attachment styles showed no significant correlation in terms of their relationship with smoking urges. In terms of assessment of the relationship between Delayed Gratification levels and attachment styles, only anxiously attached individuals demonstrated a significant, negative correlation . These results highlight the potential gender differences in delaying gratification abilities and their impact on smoking urges, among young adult males and females. Although women may be better able to control urges due to their sensitivity to internal emotional states, there still exists potential influence of the nature of emotional regulation. The insights from the overall findings, may contribute significantly towards an in-depth understanding of the psychological constructs which govern smoking behavior in young adulthood, which may be utilized in development of interventions and prevention programs which target the cessation of potential maladaptive coping behaviors.