Krysten Bold, PhD
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Appointments
Contact Info
About
Titles
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry
Biography
I am a clinical psychologist with expertise in substance use treatment and research. I earned my Ph.D. at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, completed a predoctoral clinical internship and NIDA T32 postdoctoral research fellowship at Yale University, and was promoted to research faculty at Yale School of Medicine in the Department of Psychiatry. My program of research focuses on understanding cigarette and e-cigarette use among youth and adults to inform tobacco prevention, intervention, and policy. My research on youth tobacco use has been widely cited, including in the US Surgeon General's Report on e-cigarette use among youth and young adults. I also serve on the Treatment Network Advisory Committee for the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco.
Specific ongoing research activities include:
- Investigating factors associated with initiation, switching, and cessation of cigarettes and e-cigarettes to inform prevention and intervention efforts.
- Leveraging advances in mobile technology and wearable biosensors for real-time assessment and treatment delivery.
- Using clinical trial designs to study the effects of potential tobacco regulatory policies.
- Expanding access to smoking cessation services through treatment implementation in specialized medical and community settings.
Appointments
Psychiatry
Assistant ProfessorPrimary
Other Departments & Organizations
Education & Training
- PhD
- Rutgers University (2015)
- MS
- Rutgers University (2012)
- BS
- University of Notre Dame (2008)
Research
Overview
Medical Research Interests
ORCID
0000-0002-8012-6118HABIT Lab
At the HABIT Lab, we use clinical research to understand tobacco use and health with a goal of reducing tobacco use and tobacco-related harm.
View Lab Website
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Publications Timeline
Research Interests
Meghan Morean, PhD
Grace Kong, PhD
Suchitra Krishnan-Sarin, PhD
Danielle Davis, PhD
Dana Cavallo, PhD
Patricia Simon, PhD
Tobacco Products
Smoking Cessation
Smoking
Tobacco Use
Alcohol Drinking
Tobacco
Publications
Featured Publications
E-cigarette Use Patterns, Flavors, and Device Characteristics Associated With Quitting Smoking Among a U.S. sample of Adults Using E-cigarettes in a Smoking Cessation Attempt
Bold K, O’Malley S, Krishnan-Sarin S, Morean M. E-cigarette Use Patterns, Flavors, and Device Characteristics Associated With Quitting Smoking Among a U.S. sample of Adults Using E-cigarettes in a Smoking Cessation Attempt. Nicotine & Tobacco Research 2022, 25: 954-961. PMID: 36462196, PMCID: PMC10077943, DOI: 10.1093/ntr/ntac276.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsE-cigarette useE-cigarettesTobacco regulatory policyLonger durationNicotine concentrationsAbstinence durationNon-tobacco flavorsMultivariable linear regression modelsSmoking cessation attemptE-cigarette use patternsDuration of abstinenceLonger abstinence durationCessation successSmoking cessationCigarette cessationQuitting smokingMultivariable modelCessation attemptsQuit attemptsE-cigarette flavorsSmokingAverage durationAbstinenceAdultsPublic healthExamining associations of e-cigarette flavour restrictions with e-cigarette use and success quitting smoking among US adults
Bold KW, Krishnan-Sarin S, O'Malley S, Morean ME. Examining associations of e-cigarette flavour restrictions with e-cigarette use and success quitting smoking among US adults. Tobacco Control 2022, 31: s184-s186. PMID: 36328465, PMCID: PMC9664117, DOI: 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2022-057458.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchExamining the potential role of e-cigarettes to reduce health disparities associated with menthol cigarette use: Characterizing e-cigarette use, flavors, and reasons for use among US adults smoking menthol cigarettes
Bold KW, Buta E, Simon P, Gueorguieva R, Jackson A, Suttiratana SC, Krishnan-Sarin S, O'Malley SS. Examining the potential role of e-cigarettes to reduce health disparities associated with menthol cigarette use: Characterizing e-cigarette use, flavors, and reasons for use among US adults smoking menthol cigarettes. Drug And Alcohol Dependence 2022, 236: 109475. PMID: 35594642, PMCID: PMC9248755, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2022.109475.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH Keywords and ConceptsExamining Tobacco Treatment Perceptions and Barriers Among Black vs. Non-Black Adults Attending Lung Cancer Screening
Bold KW, Cannon S, Ford BB, Neveu S, Sather P, Toll BA, Fucito LM. Examining Tobacco Treatment Perceptions and Barriers Among Black vs. Non-Black Adults Attending Lung Cancer Screening. Cancer Prevention Research 2022, 15: 327-333. PMID: 35063942, PMCID: PMC9064926, DOI: 10.1158/1940-6207.capr-21-0398.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsLung cancer screeningCancer screeningTobacco treatmentWithdrawal symptomsRace/ethnicityTreatment perceptionsUS Preventive Services Task ForceHealth disparitiesAnnual lung cancerSmilow Cancer HospitalYale-New HavenCharacteristics of patientsHigh-risk patientsHigh-risk populationNon-Hispanic blacksTobacco-related health disparitiesAddress health disparitiesPatient characteristicsSmoking historyBlack patientsCancer HospitalLung cancerHigh riskPatientsSmokingSchool-based E-cigarette cessation programs: What do youth want?
Bold K, Kong G, Cavallo D, Davis D, Jackson A, Krishnan-Sarin S. School-based E-cigarette cessation programs: What do youth want? Addictive Behaviors 2021, 125: 107167. PMID: 34753093, PMCID: PMC8629945, DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2021.107167.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsConcentration/attentionCessation programsQualitative themesHigh school youthSchool youthIntervention developmentYouthE-cigarette usePersonal anecdotesFocus groupsCurrent e-cigarette usersRewardPerceptionDeductive approachSkillsFall 2019AbstinenceApathyInaccurate reportingThemesProgramEmbarrassmentE-cigarette usersAttention
2025
Examining E-Cigarette Flavor Use and Preference by Menthol Cigarette Status and Quit Duration Among US Adults Using E-Cigarettes in a Smoking Cessation Attempt
Joseph M, Morean M, Wu R, Krishnan-Sarin S, O’Malley S, Bold K. Examining E-Cigarette Flavor Use and Preference by Menthol Cigarette Status and Quit Duration Among US Adults Using E-Cigarettes in a Smoking Cessation Attempt. Nicotine & Tobacco Research 2025, ntaf059. PMID: 40056399, DOI: 10.1093/ntr/ntaf059.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSmoking menthol cigarettesSmoking cessation attemptsE-cigarettesE-cigarette flavorsMenthol cigarettesNon-menthol cigarettesQuit smokingCessation attemptsCross-sectional survey dataReduce cigarette useE-cigarette flavor preferenceDuration of abstinenceDuration of smoking abstinenceUS adultsCigarette typesQuit durationSmoking mentholSmoking abstinenceSurvey dataCigarette useGeneralized linear modelSmokingCigaretteNon-mentholAdultsUnderstanding Reasons to Quit or Reduce Vaping and Associations With Quitting Outcomes Among High School Adolescents in Connecticut
Bold K, Kong G, Morean M, Sharma A, Courtney W, Li W, Davis D, Camenga D, Ouellette R, Krishnan-Sarin S. Understanding Reasons to Quit or Reduce Vaping and Associations With Quitting Outcomes Among High School Adolescents in Connecticut. Journal Of Adolescent Health 2025 PMID: 39985534, DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2025.01.004.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsE-cigarette useQuit outcomesE-cigarettesReduce vapingAssociated with successful quittingNicotine/tobacco productsE-cigarette cessation interventionsPeer support strategiesLifetime e-cigarette useImprove public healthPunitive measuresE-cigarette accessE-cigarette interventionsCessation interventionsSuccessful quittingInfluence of friendsHigh school adolescentsSupport strategiesSchool adolescentsPublic healthInterventionVapingSurveyed high school studentsQuittingHealthRecommended self-report measures for use of menthol, mint and cooling-flavoured nicotine and tobacco products
Ozga J, Bold K, Giovenco D, Villanti A, Unger J, Leventhal A, Stanton C. Recommended self-report measures for use of menthol, mint and cooling-flavoured nicotine and tobacco products. Tobacco Control 2025, tc-2024-059157. PMID: 39947699, DOI: 10.1136/tc-2024-059157.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsM142 Trends of Polysubstance Use Combinations for the Most Used Substances Among Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual US Adults
Mestre L, Parker M, Lee J, White M, Bold K. M142 Trends of Polysubstance Use Combinations for the Most Used Substances Among Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual US Adults. Drug And Alcohol Dependence 2025, 267: 111736. DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2024.111736.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsS3 Differences in E-Cigarette Use Behaviors by High School Grade Level
Ponte V, Davis D, Bold K, Kong G, Morean M, Camenga D, Li W, Sharma A, Lee J, Krishnan-Sarin S. S3 Differences in E-Cigarette Use Behaviors by High School Grade Level. Drug And Alcohol Dependence 2025, 267: 111423. DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2024.111423.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
Clinical Trials
Current Trials
Potential Impact of Menthol Ban in Cigarettes and E-cigarettes
HIC ID2000032211RolePrincipal InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date02/28/2026Recruiting ParticipantsGenderBothAge21+ years
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
honor New Investigator Best Abstract Award
National AwardSociety for Research on Nicotine and TobaccoDetails03/11/2021United Stateshonor Leadership Award
Yale School of Medicine AwardYale School of Medicine Predoctoral Internship in Clinical PsychologyDetails06/30/2015United Stateshonor Student Merit Award
National AwardResearch Society on AlcoholismDetails06/24/2015United States
News
News
- March 17, 2025
Yale-Led Study Highlights Oral Nicotine Products’ Marketing to Retailers
- September 27, 2024Source: Newswise
Older Gay & Lesbian Adults at Greater Risk of Polysubstance Use: Study
- September 27, 2023
$20M Federal Grant Renewed for Yale Tobacco Center of Regulatory Science
- February 22, 2023Source: Preventive Medicine
Yale Study: First Nicotine Product Tried Correlates With Current Product Use and Nicotine Dependence in Youth