Potential Underlying Mechanisms for the Positive Relation Between Loneliness and Smoking

Although the literature on possible cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between loneliness and smoking is mixed, several mechanisms have been proposed explaining possible positive associations among adolescents/young adults. On the one hand, isolated individuals (compared to cliques or liaisons) might be more likely to smoke based on motivational processes aimed at enhancing belongingness and connection (Seo & Huang, 2012). People who experience feelings of loneliness may smoke or initiate smoking to increase opportunities for social contact (DeWall & Pond Jr., 2011). Possibly, people might try to reconnect through mimicking behaviours such as smoking to gain social acceptance. These ideas are based on evidence that people who feel lonely show lower inhibition to perform behaviours detrimental to health, such as smoking (DeWall & Pond Jr., 2011).

On the other hand, coping mechanisms, such as the self-medication hypothesis, might explain why individuals who are experiencing loneliness might use cigarettes as a remedy for distress or alleviate the painful emotions associated with loneliness (Brennan, 1982; Khantzian, 1985; Mischel et al., 2014; Munafò et al., 2008).