title: Smoking, nicotine dependence and mental health among young adults: a 13-year population-based longitudinal study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociology and Human Geography, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway. willy.pedersen@sosiologi.uio.no
authors.forename: Willy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Pedersen
authors.forename: Tilmann
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: von Soest
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D013577:Syndrome; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult