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. 2016 Dec:63:19-22.
doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2016.06.024. Epub 2016 Jun 29.

Associations between tobacco and nicotine product use and depressive symptoms among college students in Texas

Frank C Bandiera  1 , Alexandra Loukas  2 , Anna V Wilkinson  1 , Cheryl L Perry  1
Affiliations

Associations between tobacco and nicotine product use and depressive symptoms among college students in Texas

Frank C Bandiera et al. Addict Behav. 2016 Dec.

Abstract

Background: There is a well-established link between cigarette smoking and depression; less is known about the potential association between alternative tobacco products, such as hookah, cigars, smokeless tobacco, and electronic cigarette (e-cigarette use) with depression. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is now regulating tobacco products and is interested in tobacco product use among those with mental health problems and other special populations such as college students.

Methods: Cross-sectional statewide convenience sample study of 5438 college students in 24 colleges and universities in Texas. Past 30-day use of hookah, cigar, smokeless tobacco, cigarette, and e-cigarette use were measured by self-report. Depressive symptoms were measured by the 10-item short form of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies scale.

Results: Only e-cigarette use was positively associated with depressive symptoms, even after accounting for all other tobacco products and socio-demographics. There were no significant interactions between race/ethnicity or gender with each of the tobacco products on depressive symptoms.

Conclusions: E-cigarette use was positively associated with depressive symptoms among college students in Texas. Further research is needed to determine causality, which may inform FDA regulatory planning.

Keywords: College students; Depression; Texas; Tobacco products.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflict of interest.

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