Smoking Can Increase Depression in Teens
New research has found that although smoking may seem to have self-medicating effects, it may actually increase depressive symptoms in some adolescents. Published in the journal Addictive Behaviors, the research is part of a long-term Nicotine Dependence in Teens study based at the University of Montreal Hospital Research Centre.
Michael Chaiton, lead author of the study and a research associate at the Ontario Tobacco Research Unit of the University of Toronto, said that this study is one of the few that looks at the ways in which teens perceive the emotional benefits of smoking.
For the study, 662 students from grades 7 to 11 were asked to complete questionnaires about using smoking to improve their mood. The participants were a mix of French and English students from both urban and rural schools, and those located in different socioeconomic neighborhoods.
The students were divided into three groups—those who never smoked, those who didn’t use smoking to self-medicate or improve mood, and those who did use smoking to self-medicate or improve mood. The researchers measured depressive symptoms using questions about how often they feel too tired to do things; had trouble falling asleep or staying asleep; feel sad, depressed, hopeless, nervous, or tense; and worry too much.
Study co-author Jennifer O’Loughlin, a professor at the University of Montreal Department of Social and Preventive Medicine and scientist at the of the University of Montreal Hospital Research Centre, said that teens who used smoking to elevate their mood were at higher risk of having more depression symptoms than teens who didn’t smoke.
Dr. Chaiton said that it’s important for people to realize that depression scores were higher among teens who thought that smoking provided emotional benefits after beginning to smoke.
Parents and teachers should educate children and adolescents about the many dangers of smoking, including its ability to increase the risk of depression.
Source: Science Daily, Smoking Can Increase Depressive Symptoms in Teens, Study Finds, August 27, 2010
