Smoking cigarettes may not only pose risks to lung health but could also contribute to diminished mental well-being, as indicated by a study conducted by researchers from Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel. The study involved over 2,000 students from Serbian universities, each situated in diverse socio-political and economic contexts. Published in the journal PLOS ONE, the research revealed that students who engaged in smoking exhibited rates of clinical depression two to three times higher than their non-smoking counterparts.
At the University of Pristina, 14% of smokers experienced depression, compared to 4% among non-smokers, the researchers noted. Similarly, at Belgrade University, the figures were 19% for smokers and 11% for non-smokers. Additionally, the study found that students who smoked reported higher levels of depressive symptoms and lower scores in mental health aspects such as vitality and social functioning compared to their non-smoking peers.
Professor Hagai Levine from Hebrew University of Jerusalem emphasized, “Our study contributes to the growing body of evidence linking smoking and depression. While it may be premature to assert that smoking directly causes depression, there is a discernible negative impact of tobacco on our mental health.” Levine conveyed this message in a statement accompanying the study.
