Cognitive Flexibility of Smokers in the Context of Social Anxiety

Background: The cognitiveCognitive dysfunction may be an important factor in smoking and nicotine abuse. However, there are very few studies that have examined the effects of psychiatric conditions on the cognitive flexibility of smokers. Objectives: This research was conducted with the aim of examination theto examine cognitive flexibility (perceive theperceived controllability and cognitive alternatives) ofamong smokers in the context of with social anxiety. MaterialMaterials and methods: The research was a study withpresent causal-comparative design. The populationstudy was allconducted on 60 smoker students ofstudying at Arak University, Arak, Iran, in 2018-2019 years. For selecting the research sample the. The study population was selected using the purposive sampling was usedtechnique. At first, the participants completed the Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN) and Cognitive Flexibility Inventory (CFI).. Then, based on the cutoff point scores of SPIN (19 to above),≤), the participants were divided into two smoker groups (n=30 in each group) were selected: smoker groupsof smokers with and without social anxiety. (n=30 in each group). Finally, these groups were compared in perceive the terms of perceived controllability and cognitive alternatives by Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA).using the multivariate analysis of variance. Results: The results indicated a significant difference in the linerlinear composition of the dependent variables ofin the two groups (wilks,Wilks’ lambda= 0/.799, F50,2= 6/.726, p= P=0/.004). UnivariateThe results of the univariate analysis of variance indicated that the smoker group with social anxiety had lower perceive theperceived controllability and cognitive alternatives, compared to the smoker group without social anxiety. Conclusion:  In generalAs the findings indicated, the level of cognitive flexibility in the smokers with and without social anxiety iswas different. Therefore, it is necessary to consideringconsider the evaluation and treatment of cognitive deficits in smokers based on their level of social anxiety.

Keywords:

Cognitive flexibility , Smokers , Social anxiety