Cigarette dependence and memory performance among young adults in the United States: An exploration of behavioral, psychological, and social mechanisms.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the associations between cigarette dependence (CD) and memory performance among young adults while also examining behavioral, psychological, and social factors as potential mediators. Memory outcomes were compared across four groups: individuals who never smoked daily, individuals who smoked daily without CD, and individuals with lifetime or current CD. METHOD: = 1.78); 53% were female. Memory was assessed using the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test and the Digit-Span Backward Task. Mediators included physical activity, sleep problems, partnership quality, number of close friends, perceived stress, and anxiety. RESULTS: Both lifetime and current CD were significantly associated with poorer memory performance. Lifetime CD was linked to deficits in short-term and long-term memory but not working memory. Current CD was associated with deficits across all three domains. Daily smoking without CD was not significantly associated with memory outcomes. These patterns were consistent across sex. Perceived stress and the number of close friends partially mediated the associations between CD and memory performance, while behavioral factors explained little of the associations. CONCLUSIONS: CD is associated with significant memory impairments in young adulthood. Psychological and social mechanisms partially account for these associations, highlighting the importance of addressing stress and social isolation to mitigate cognitive consequences. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).