A longitudinal examination of the relationship between smoking and panic, anxiety, and depression in Chinese and German students. (December 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lavallee, Kristen L.; Zhang, Xiao Chi; Schneider, Silvia; Margraf, Jürgen
• Is Part Of: Addictive behaviors reports. Volume 14(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-12
• Subjects: Smoking -- Panic -- Anxiety -- Depression -- Mental health -- Longitudinal -- Cross-cultural -- China -- Germany; BOOM Bochum Optimism and Mental Health Studies -- DASS-21 Depression Anxiety Stress Scales -- FAS Family Affluence Scale; Compulsive behavior -- Periodicals; 616.8584
• DOI: 10.1016/j.abrep.2021.100347
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2352-8532

Abstract

Highlights: Study of smoking and panic, depression, and anxiety over time and across two cultures. Smoking at baseline did not predict higher panic or depression at follow-up in either German or Chinese students. Smoking did predict lower anxiety in German students. Baseline anxiety predicted increased likelihood of smoking at follow-up in German, but not Chinese students. Baseline depression did not predict smoking at follow-up in German or Chinese students. Abstract: The present study examines the relationship between smoking and panic, depression, and anxiety over time and across two cultures, using data from the BOOM studies. The relationship between smoking and anxiety disorders, including panic requires further exploration, in order to reconcile inconsistent, contradictory findings and cross-cultural differences. Participants in the present study included 5, 416 Chinese university students and 282 German university students. Participants completed surveys assessing smoking, panic, depression, and anxiety. Multiple logistic regressions were used to examine predict later mental health from smoking, as well as later smoking from mental health. In sum, across the regressions, smoking at baseline did not predict higher panic or depression at follow-up in either German or Chinese students. It did predict lower anxiety in German students. Anxiety at baseline, but not depression, predicted increased likelihood of smoking at follow-up in German students. The relationship between smoking and anxiety disorders is one that will require further exploration, in order to reconcile inconsistent, contradictory findings and cross-cultural differences. The present data point to a relationship between anxiety and later smoking, and also to a negative, though small, relationship between smoking and later anxiety in German students, and no prospective relationship in either direction in Chinese students.