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Smoking, nicotine dependence and mental health among young adults: a 13‐year population‐based longitudinal study
Author(s) -
Pedersen Willy,
Von Soest Tilmann
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
addiction
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.424
H-Index - 193
eISSN - 1360-0443
pISSN - 0965-2140
DOI - 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2008.02395.x
Subject(s) - nicotine , parasuicide , anxiety , psychiatry , mental health , depression (economics) , confounding , population , nicotine dependence , medicine , clinical psychology , longitudinal study , psychology , poison control , injury prevention , suicide attempt , environmental health , pathology , economics , macroeconomics
Aims To investigate prospectively the associations between daily smoking and nicotine dependence and anxiety, depression and suicide attempts. Methods Data were from the Young in Norway Longitudinal Study. A population‐based sample ( n = 1501) was followed for 13 years from ages 13–27 years. Data were gathered on smoking patterns and nicotine dependence; and depression, anxiety and parasuicide. Extensive information on socio‐demographic factors, parental and family conditions, parental rearing practices, educational career, conduct problems, alcohol problems and use of illegal substances was also collected. Results Young adults who were nicotine‐dependent had clearly elevated rates of anxiety, depression and parasuicide. These rates declined after controlling for a previous history of mental health problems and potential confounding factors. After adjustment, nicotine dependence was still associated with anxiety, depression and parasuicide. There was also a significant association with later depression in the group of non‐dependent daily smokers. Measures of reduced mental health did not predict later smoking initiation or the development of nicotine dependence. Conclusions Mental health was reduced more seriously in nicotine‐dependent smokers than in non‐dependent smokers. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that smoking, in particular nicotine dependence, influences mental health.