Combination
of depression and high sensitivity to advertising significantly increases
risk that teenagers will smoke
Teenagers who have depression combined with a high receptivity to
tobacco advertising are at increased risk to begin smoking, according
to an article in the March issue of the Journal of Pediatric Psychology.
Although research has demonstrated
the effects of a number of factors on adolescent smoking behavior
(including exposure to smoking by family and friends, high receptivity
to tobacco advertising, and positive attitudes and beliefs about
smoking), the current study is one of the first to examine how a
psychiatric condition - depression -- combines with these factors
to influence the likelihood of smoking.
"This study demonstrates
the complex interplay of factors that influence the initiation of
smoking by youth and identifies subgroups of adolescents at especially
high risk, such as those who are depressed and those with a high
level of receptivity to tobacco advertising. These findings will
be useful in targeting prevention messages," said Dr. Glen
Hanson of the National Institutes of Health.
The senior author of the study,
Dr. Janet Audrain, said, "Adolescents with elevated levels
of depression may find the messages delivered by tobacco advertisements
more appealing than adolescents without elevated levels of depression.
Smoking prevention messages should educate youth about the tobacco
industry's manipulation of youth that may be psychologically vulnerable
to smoke, and dispel the myths about the benefits of smoking and
the images that these advertisements portray (for example, that
cigarette smoking is associated with happiness and good times)."
The investigators surveyed
1,123 high school freshmen as part of a longitudinal investigation
of the biobehavioral predictors of adolescent smoking. Students
completed a survey that assessed current smoking practices, exposure
to other smokers including family and peers, and self-reported levels
of depression and receptivity to tobacco advertising.
Whereas 60 percent of participants
reported that they had never smoked, 40 percent reported having
smoked at least one partial or whole cigarette. Across both groups,
34 percent had high receptivity to advertising shown by ability
to name an often-advertised cigarette brand, describe a favorite
tobacco ad, or report that they possessed or were willing to use
a tobacco industry product.
Researchers found that more
adolescents with high receptivity to tobacco advertising had smoked
compared with those with low receptivity and that these results
were further affected by depression.
"Among participants with
clinically significant depression scores, the effects of tobacco
advertising receptivity were heightened," said Kenneth P. Tercyak,
Ph.D., lead author. "These adolescents may be less likely to
successfully say 'no' when presented with the opportunity to receive
and try promotional products and are more attracted to and influenced
by the promises portrayed in tobacco ads."
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