Depressive symptoms, personal health behaviors and smoking among university students


Yazici H., Ak I.

ANADOLU PSIKIYATRI DERGISI-ANATOLIAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY, vol.9, no.4, pp.224-231, 2008 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 9 Issue: 4
  • Publication Date: 2008
  • Journal Name: ANADOLU PSIKIYATRI DERGISI-ANATOLIAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, TR DİZİN (ULAKBİM)
  • Page Numbers: pp.224-231
  • Karadeniz Technical University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Objective: Smoking is addictive and harmful, causing health problems and death; therefore, there is a need to understand which factors contribute to smoking. The prevalence rates of smoking are currently the highest among university students. The main objective of this cross-sectional study was to analyze the association between smoking status with depressive symptoms and personal health behaviors. Method: A sample of 362 students (smokers=176, nonsmokers=186) answered a self-questionnaire including sociodemographic variables, and items regarding smoking. Depressive symptoms were measured by the Beck Depression Inventory and 7 personal health behaviors (alcohol consumption, daily consumption of breakfast, appropriate daily duration of sleep, appropriate daily duration of work, regular physical activity, appropriate levels of stress, balanced diet) were also assessed. Results: The results indicate that higher depressive symptoms (OR=1.05, 95% CI=1.01-1.09), alcohol consumption (OR=3.00, 95% CI=1.57-5.78), inappropriate stress management (OR=1.77, 95% CI=1.02-3.05), gender (OR=3.81, 95% CI=2.21-6.60), and grade level were factors significantly associated with student's current smoking. Conclusion: As has been previously established, depressive symptoms, alcohol consumption, and inappropriate stress management had a direct and significant effect on current smoking. These findings elucidate risk factors in our country for four important health concerns for youths: smoking, depressive symptoms, alcohol consumption, and stress. (Anatolian Journal of Psychiatry 2008; 9:224-231)