The relationship between smoking status and serious psychological distress: findings from the 2007 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the associations between smoking and quit attempts with psychological distress and also by socioeconomic groups.


METHODS
Using data on 172,938 adult respondents from the 2007 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System we used the Kessler-6 scale to assess psychological distress among never, former, some-day, and everyday smokers and smokers attempting to quit.


RESULTS
Everyday smokers and attempting quitters had higher mean levels of 30-day psychological distress than never smokers. Compared with never smokers, the odds of having serious psychological distress (SPD) were: former smokers, 1.3 (95 % CI: 1.1-1.6); some-day smokers, 2.5 (95 % CI: 2.0-3.1); and everyday smokers, 3.3 (95 % CI: 2.8-3.8). As for unsuccessful quit attempts, the odds were highest for current smokers (3.3 [95 % CI: 2.8-3.8]) versus never smokers. Among current smokers, persons with less than high school education, income less than $ 50,000, or who were unemployed or unable to work had the highest odds of reporting SPD.


CONCLUSIONS
Given the association between current smoking behaviors and psychological distress, future tobacco prevention and control efforts may benefit by including components of mental health, especially for low SES populations.
Dube
Shanta R
SR
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office on Smoking and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway N.E., Atlanta, GA 30341-3717, USA. skd7@cdc.gov.
Caraballo
Ralph S
RS
Dhingra
Satvinder S
SS
Pearson
William S
WS
McClave
Annette K
AK
Strine
Tara W
TW
Berry
Joyce T
JT
Mokdad
Ali H
AH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D040343:Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015897:Comorbidity; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult