Depressive symptoms in adolescents may result in smoking as self-medication
Mendo CW, Maurel M, Dore L, et al. Depressive Symptoms and Cigarette Smoking in Adolescents and Young Adults: Mediating Role of Friends Smoking. Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 15 March 2021. ntab046. https://academic.oup.com/ntr/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/ntr/ntab046/6171237
“If young adolescents use cigarettes to self-medicate depressive symptoms, then interventions targeting smoking that ignore depressive symptoms may be ineffective. Our results also underscore the importance of the influence of friends in younger adolescents, suggestive that preventive intervention should target the social environment including social relationships.”
Comment: Both mental health signs and symptoms and social relationships need attention to cut smoking among adolescents.
Stephen Hamann
