Mari Järvelaid1. 1. Department of Polyclinic and Family Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia. mari.jarvelaid@sm.ee
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between tobacco smoking and psychosocial health risk factors in adolescents. DESIGN: An in-class survey of schoolchildren in the final grade of basic school and in all three grades of secondary school. SETTING: Four of the 11 secondary schools in Tartu, Estonia. SUBJECTS: 977 schoolchildren, ages ranging from 14 to 18. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: A questionnaire was developed to explore various psychosocial aspects of tobacco smoking behaviour. The 21-item Beck Depression Inventory was used to measure depression. RESULTS: In the total sample, smokers accounted for 24.5% of the girls and 26.5% of the boys, of which 13% of the girls and 19% of the boys were daily smokers. Not enjoying time spent with parents (OR = 0.6), skipping breakfast (OR = 1.3), frequent headache (OR = 1.3) and stomach-ache (OR = 1.4), dislike of school (OR = 0.7), using illicit drugs (OR = 5.0) and having multiple sexual partners (OR = 2.4) were all associated with daily smoking. Higher BDI scores were seen among adolescent smokers, particularly in girls and among pupils whose parents were non-smokers. The girls who smoked daily showed a higher risk of having suicidal thoughts (OR = 2.4) compared with non-smokers. CONCLUSION: Smoking by adolescents is an indicator of risk for depression, distress and risk-taking health-damaging behaviours.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between tobacco smoking and psychosocial health risk factors in adolescents. DESIGN: An in-class survey of schoolchildren in the final grade of basic school and in all three grades of secondary school. SETTING: Four of the 11 secondary schools in Tartu, Estonia. SUBJECTS: 977 schoolchildren, ages ranging from 14 to 18. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: A questionnaire was developed to explore various psychosocial aspects of tobacco smoking behaviour. The 21-item Beck Depression Inventory was used to measure depression. RESULTS: In the total sample, smokers accounted for 24.5% of the girls and 26.5% of the boys, of which 13% of the girls and 19% of the boys were daily smokers. Not enjoying time spent with parents (OR = 0.6), skipping breakfast (OR = 1.3), frequent headache (OR = 1.3) and stomach-ache (OR = 1.4), dislike of school (OR = 0.7), using illicit drugs (OR = 5.0) and having multiple sexual partners (OR = 2.4) were all associated with daily smoking. Higher BDI scores were seen among adolescent smokers, particularly in girls and among pupils whose parents were non-smokers. The girls who smoked daily showed a higher risk of having suicidal thoughts (OR = 2.4) compared with non-smokers. CONCLUSION: Smoking by adolescents is an indicator of risk for depression, distress and risk-taking health-damaging behaviours.
Authors: S C Cotton; L Sharp; R Seth; L F Masson; J Little; M E Cruickshank; K Neal; N Waugh Journal: Br J Cancer Date: 2007-05-22 Impact factor: 7.640