A new study has found a link between vaping and teenage mental health.
According to research conducted by Australia’s Matilda Center for Mental Health and Substance Use Research, 20% of participating students showed symptoms of moderate to severe depression. This result could potentially lead to an intervention related to mental health and e-cigarette use, The Guardian reports.
More than 5,000 students from New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia aged 12 to 14 took part in the 2023 study. They answered questions related to mental health, drug use, vaping and general well-being.
The study, which was published in Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry on Monday, Sept. 2, found that students with higher levels of stress were more likely to have used or tried vapes. Approximately 8.3% of participants said they used vape.
Stock photo of a vape cigarette in someone’s hand.
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More and more high school students are smoking cigarettes, although it is becoming less popular among high school students
Students with moderate levels of stress were 74% more likely to start using cigarettes. Meanwhile, students with severe levels of stress were 64% more likely to start using e-cigarettes.
Although there was a correlation between cigarette use and teenage mental health, there was no evidence to suggest a causal relationship between the two.
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Per The GuardianAssociate Professor at the University of Sydney and study co-author Emily Stockings pointed out that “if we want to try to improve mental health and we want to try to prevent cigarette use, it’s clear that we have to do these two things together.”
She also said that while there is temporary relief with nicotine use, the long-term effects should not be overlooked. “Regardless of whether mental health affects smoking or vice versa, it’s clear that if we want to prevent cigarettes, we need to address mental health at the same time,” she said, according to UPI.
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Per The GuardianMichelle Jongenelis, associate professor at the University of Melbourne, said this “critical period for development” was an important time to prioritize mental health interventions and support.
More research will be needed to find a stronger correlation between smoking and mental health, but the study is enough of a starting point to show the need for more information.
According to the CDC, most e-cigarettes contain nicotine, which is highly addictive and can harm human brain development in users under the age of 25.
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education