Psychological health and smoking in young adulthood

Abstract

Introduction: Young adulthood is a critical time for the emergence of risk behaviors including smoking. Psychological health is associated with smoking, but studies rarely track both over time. We used longitudinal data to assess whether average patterns of psychological health influenced average patterns of smoking and whether short-term fluctuations in psychological health influenced fluctuations in smoking. Method: Young adults aged 18-30 from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics were followed from 2007 to 2013, and mean trajectories of smoking were modeled. Psychological health variables included ever having a mental health diagnosis and time-varying distress. Results: In regression models, individuals with poorer psychological health (higher distress or a diagnosis) were more likely to be smokers and to smoke greater number of cigarettes. The association of diagnosis with number of cigarettes smoked increased with age. Conclusions: Smoking-related interventions should target individuals with poorer psychological health, even if they have no formal mental health diagnosis.