Understanding how delay discounting affects smoking during pregnancy

Measuring and modifying delay discounting as a mechanism of smoking in pregnancy

NIH-funded research Vanderbilt University Medical Center · NIH-11026390

This study is looking at why some pregnant women find it hard to quit smoking even though they really want to, and it’s using a mobile app to help understand their choices better so that we can create better ways to support them in stopping smoking for the health of both mom and baby.

Quick facts

Grant typeCareer grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionVanderbilt University Medical Center NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Nashville, United States)
Project IDNIH-11026390 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates why many pregnant women who smoke struggle to quit despite wanting to, focusing on a concept called delay discounting. Delay discounting refers to the tendency to prioritize immediate rewards over long-term benefits, which in this case, leads to continued smoking despite the known risks to both mother and baby. The study aims to measure this behavior using a mobile app and explore ways to modify it to help women quit smoking during pregnancy. By addressing the gaps in understanding how delay discounting relates to smoking, the research seeks to develop safer and more effective cessation strategies for pregnant women.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are pregnant women who smoke and wish to quit.

Not a fit: Patients who are not pregnant or who do not smoke may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new methods for helping pregnant women quit smoking, ultimately improving health outcomes for both mothers and their babies.

How similar studies have performed: While the concept of delay discounting has been studied in other contexts, this specific approach to modifying it for smoking cessation in pregnant women is novel and has not been extensively tested.

Where this research is happening

Nashville, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions addictive disorder
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.