Depression has been broadly studied in association with tobacco smoking. However, little is known about the prospective association between anhedonia, one of the core symptoms of depression, and smoking outcomes after smoking cessation treatment. The goal of this study was to examine the bidirectional and longitudinal relation between anhedonia and smoking abstinence after smoking cessation intervention and up to a 12-month follow-up.

The sample was composed of 685 participants (Mage = 45.51; 62 % female) that were enrolled in three cognitive-behavioural smoking cessation interventions. Anhedonia and smoking abstinence were measured at post-treatment, and at 3-, 6- and 12-month follow-ups. The bidirectional and longitudinal association was analysed applying a Random Intercept Cross-Lagged Panel Model (RI-CLPM), and results were controlled for the effects of sex and differing studies.

The RI-CLPM showed that smoking abstinence in one timepoint predicted lower anhedonia at the following timepoint for each assessment. Although greater anhedonia was related to lower smoking abstinence crossectionally at post-treatment, 6- and 12-month follow-ups, precedent anhedonia did not predict consequent smoking abstinence at any follow-up. The results were consistent when controlling potential confounding variables.

The bidirectional analysis indicated that smoking abstinence predicted lower anhedonia after a smoking cessation intervention during the course of 12 months, but anhedonia did not significantly predict smoking abstinence at any consequent timepoint. Findings have relevant implications as may serve to motivate healthcare professionals to apply tailored smoking cessation interventions, and people who smoke to quit due to the potential impact on mood.