Teenagers Who Smoke Are More Depressed

According to a new study completed by Nicotine Dependence in Kids (NDIT), teens who smoke are more likely to be depressed than teens who choose not to smoke. The study included 662 participants broken into three groups for the study. Students came from varying backgrounds, economical statuses and ethnic groups (French and English). Schools from which the students were pulled included those in poor and affluent neighborhoods.

The three groups, for the purpose of the study, included those who did not smoke, teens who smoked to medicate and participants who chose to smoke but did not do so for self-medicating purposes. Data was collected from the students via questionnaires with questions including:

How does smoking make you feel?

What is your energy level?

Do you have difficulty sleeping?

Would you describe yourself mental state as sad or depressed?

Do you feel hopeless about what the future had to hold?

Do you feel nervous or tense?

According to the answers teens gave to the questionnaires, researchers linked depression to smoking. Teens who chose to smoke for emotional reasons or linked emotions to smoking were more likely to report feelings of depression or sadness, as well.

The study did not report a link between smoking and depression in teens that did not smoke for emotional reasons. Teens that scored higher on depression tests developed an emotional bond to smoking after they had already started smoking.

Why Do Teens Start Smoking?

If the study links depressive symptoms to teens after they have already started smoking, why do teens start to smoke in the first place. Peer pressure and having parents who are smokers both increase the likelihood a teen will try smoking. After trying that first cigarette, smoking can soon become an addiction that lasts a lifetime.

When teens start smoking, there is a greater chance they will contract cancer, COPD or another smoking related disease due to the sheer length of time teens spend smoking as opposed to adults who start smoking later in life. Teen tend to yellow faster and skin can lose tautness. Early aging has also been linked to smoking.

How Can Parents Curb Teen Smoking?

Setting a good example by choosing not to smoke is an extremely effective solution. Teaching teens about the effects of smoking that are visible to the naked eye like skin changes, teeth changes and smell are all great ways to keeping teens from smoking.

Resources:

ScienceDaily