Adolescent tobacco smoking and associated psychosocial health risk factors.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the relationship between tobacco smoking and psychosocial health risk factors in adolescents.


METHODS
An in-class survey of schoolchildren in the final grade of basic school and in all three grades of secondary school.


METHODS
Four of the 11 secondary schools in Tartu, Estonia.


METHODS
977 schoolchildren, ages ranging from 14 to 18.


METHODS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
Smoking by adolescents is an indicator of risk for depression, distress and risk-taking health-damaging behaviours.
Järvelaid
Mari
M
Department of Polyclinic and Family Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia. mari.jarvelaid@sm.ee
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications; D004957:Estonia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012574:Schools; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires