The Mediating Role of Emotion Regulation in Relationship Between Criticism and Cigarette Smoking Among Male Adolescents

Background: Tobacco use is one of the major preventable causes of death in the world and is one of the most prevalent public health problems in Iran. Cigarette cravings are influenced by various psycho-social factors. Objectives: This studyaimedto investigate craving a cigarette basedonperceived criticism by parents, dose of usage, andemotional self-regulation in adolescents. Patients and Methods: This study was performed as a cross-sectional self-reported questionnaire and structural equation modeling. A sample of 350 male students were randomly selected from different high schools in Isfahan. Three questionnaires including Hooked on Nicotine Checklist (HONC), emotion regulation inventory, and Perceived Criticism Measure (PCM) were employed. Data were analyzed using the Chi-square, correlation coefficient, and structural modeling tests. Results: The results of this study showed that 34.4% of students had experienced smoking more than 20 cigarettes throughout their lifetime. There was a significant correlation between emotional reappraisal (r =- 0.48), expressive suppression (r = -0.58), and perceived criticism (r = 0.56) with cigarette cravings (P < 0.001). In addition to direct effect, perceived criticism through the emotional self-regulation and dose of usage had indirect effects on nicotine cravings. A total of 61% of variance in cravings towards nicotine was explained by the variables. Conclusions: In total, the results of this study revealed that high levels of smoking tendency in students is a crucial issue; therefore, students’ psychological problems such as negative experiences is associated with criticism by parents, adaptive emotion-regulation strategies, and prevention of smoking. Cautions regarding adverse health and social consequences of smoking to students should be taken into consideration by authorities and families.