Perceptions of Infant Cry Sounds Among Tobacco and Cannabis Using Mothers and Their Association with Tobacco and Cannabis Cravings

Background/Objectives: We examined maternal perceptions of infant cries as a mediator between maternal tobacco/cannabis use, psychological distress (depression/anger/hostility) and reported cravings for cigarettes and/or cannabis across two time points. Methods: A total of 96 substance-using mothers (35 tobacco-only and 61 tobacco/cannabis) were recruited in pregnancy. Maternal substance use and psychological distress were measured when their children were school age (5–6 years, T1). At the middle childhood assessment (9–12 years, T2), mothers listened to a standardized set of newborn cries and, afterwards, rated their aversiveness, impact on negative affect, and their tobacco/cannabis cravings. Results: Higher levels of maternal depressive symptoms at T1 were associated with perceptions of cries as being more aversive at T2, which, in turn, were associated with increased cannabis cravings at T2. At T1, higher depressive symptoms predicted increased tobacco cravings and higher maternal anger/hostility predicted increased cannabis cravings. Conclusions: Results highlight the role that infant cries and psychological distress play in cravings among tobacco/cannabis-using mothers.