By Stephen Beech via SWNS
Depressed teenagers are twice as likely to vape as other youngsters, according to a new study.
The findings highlight a “critical” need for mental health support to stop adolescents taking up the increasingly common habit, say health experts.
The study of vaping among Australian high school students found those who reported severe depressive symptoms were more than twice as likely to have tried e-cigarettes, compared to those reporting no depressive symptoms.
The findings, published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, revealed overall higher e-cigarette use among those with poorer mental health – including severe depressive symptoms, moderate or high stress, and low well-being.
The research team surveyed more than 5,000 Year 7 and 8 students from 40 schools in New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia, creating one of the largest datasets on adolescent vaping currently available.
Of the 5,157 students who took part in the study, 8.3% reported having used e-cigarettes before.
E-cigarette use was also 74% higher among students who reported moderate stress, and 64% higher for people who reported high levels of stress.
Vaping was also 105% higher for students who reported low well-being compared to high well-being.
But anxiety symptoms were not associated with e-cigarette use.
The data were drawn from a survey within the OurFutures Vaping Trial, the first clinical trial of a school-based e-cigarette prevention program in Australia.
The trial aims to test if vaping uptake can be prevented among Australian adolescents.
Dr. Lauren Gardner, from the University of Sydney’s Matilda Centre, said: “There is a lack of data on the links between adolescent vaping and mental health, especially in the unique Australian context.
“It was important we addressed this as we are witnessing both vaping and mental ill-health increase among young people.”
Dr. Gardner, who co-leads the OurFutures Vaping Trial, added: “More research is needed to understand the complex relationship between mental health and vaping.
“However, these findings highlight the urgent need for prevention and early intervention approaches, backed by evidence, to support both the short- and long-term health and well-being of young people.”
The research team say their findings are “consistent” with research in other age groups and countries, including the United States that has linked adolescent e-cigarette use with depressive and anxiety symptoms and stress.
The Matilda Centre previously found the average age a teenager begins to vape was 14.
Other research has found vaping rates among 12- to 15-year-olds increasing from 10% to 24% between 2017 and 2023.
Study co-author Dr. Emily Stockings, of the Matilda Centre, said: “There is a growing body of evidence of a relationship between vaping and mental health.
“Vaping has been linked with the onset of mental health problems, and vice versa.
“Although not explored in our study, it is possible that this relationship can be explained by shared social, environmental and genetic risk factors, or it may point to possible self-medicating behaviors.
“In the short term, nicotine may reduce feelings of anxiety and stress, and young people may be reaching for vapes as a coping mechanism.”
She added: “Regardless of whether mental ill-health influences smoking or vice-versa, it is clear that if we are to prevent vaping onset, we need to address mental health at the same time.”
