Why social contexts matter

Abstract

Commentary to: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/add.13503/abstract

From consensus to action: time to incorporate social context into laboratory studies of smoking

“…In our laboratory, we are beginning to examine smoking and cigarette craving experiences in a variety of social settings, including interactions among non‐romantic friends (smoking buddies) and intimate partners. We also agree with Dr Harakeh's suggestion to examine interactions via social media related to smoking and Dr Graham's recommendation to evaluate effects across different levels of socio‐economic status .…”

“…We concluded that understanding of smoking will remain incomplete if investigators continue to rely entirely upon laboratory research conducted while individuals participate in isolation . It was both striking and heartening to us to find unanimity among the commentators in their support of our position . They also identified a number of areas where they believe social psychological factors can play a role in understanding smoking.…”

A review of the effects of nicotine on social functioning.

“…Although the aforementioned research indicates that smokers report smoking at least in part to enhance social situations or improve socializing, with the exception of modeling research showing that smoking behavior is influenced by the presence of others (e.g., Harakeh & Vollebergh, 2013), most experimental smoking research fails to incorporate social factors (Dimoff & Sayette, 2017). This neglect stands in contrast to other sub-disciplines of public health smoking research, such as social epidemiology, in which “… [smoking] studies have social context as their starting point and often as their primary focus” (Graham, 2017, p. 396). It also contrasts with an interest in social factors observed in other experimental drug research, including alcohol (Borsari & Carey, 2001; Kirkpatrick & de Wit, 2013; Sayette et al, 2012), 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA: De Wit, 2016; Hysek et al, 2014), and marijuana (Heishman & Stitzer, 1989; Osborne & Fogel, 2008).…”

“…. [smoking] studies have social context as their starting point and often as their primary focus” (Graham, 2017, p. 396). It also contrasts with an interest in social factors observed in other experimental drug research, including alcohol (Borsari & Carey, 2001; Kirkpatrick & de Wit, 2013; Sayette et al, 2012), 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; De Wit, 2016; Hysek et al, 2014), and marijuana (Heishman & Stitzer, 1989; Osborne & Fogel, 2008).…”