Secondhand smoke policy and the risk of depression.
BACKGROUND
Banning smoking in work and public settings leads to immediate reductions in disease burden. However, no previous studies have looked specifically at the impact smoking bans may have on depression.


METHODS
The 2006 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) uses a cross-sectional design representative of the non-institutionalized civilian US population. Never smoker survey participants > or =18 years of age were selected from the BRFSS (n = 41,904) with their self-report of depressive symptoms in the last 2 weeks, as assessed by the Patient Health Questionnaire. Models with adjustment for survey design, sociodemographics, alcohol consumption, and work and home smoking policies were considered.


RESULTS
Following covariate adjustment, the risk of major depression was significantly higher for those living where smoking was allowed anywhere in the home versus those living in homes with complete smoking bans and in those who indicated that smoking was permitted in their work areas versus those reporting complete workplace smoking bans.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings from the present analysis support policies that ban smoking in all workplace settings. Interventions designed to eliminate smoking in the home are also needed.
Bandiera
Frank C
FC
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, P.O. Box 016069 (D-4-11), Miami, FL 33101, USA.
Caban-Martinez
Alberto J
AJ
Arheart
Kristopher L
KL
Davila
Evelyn P
EP
Fleming
Lora E
LE
Dietz
Noella A
NA
Lewis
John E
JE
Fabry
David
D
Lee
David J
DJ
D000328:Adult; D040343:Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006291:Health Policy; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D014481:United States
D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution