SelfhelpMagazine

by Michael Windle, Ph.D. & Rebecca C. Windle, M.S.W.

Psychologists investigated the relationship between teen smoking and depression in 1,218 adolescents whose average age was 15.

A Link Between Depression and Teen Smoking
Their study found out that teen smokers who averaged 20 or more cigarettes every day for 6 months were likely to have more depression symptoms for the year and half they were followed than the adolescents who reported smoking less.

Plus, the teenagers with high levels of depression were also smoking heavily. Both smoking and depression appeared to influence each other, said the authors. The influence was seen even after controlling other factors like smoking levels, alcohol, other substance abuse and delinquent activities.

Many teens who smoke have been found to lack the ability to withstand peer pressure. When their friends pressure them to smoke, they will often give in, just to be a part of the crowd or to stop being harassed. They often also lack the ability to solve other kinds of problems. Programs that help teenagers kick their nicotine habit or keep them from smoking at all should include programs that look at how these teenagers handle and solve problems. Arming these at-risk teenagers with coping strategies could make all the difference from failure to success.

If you know a teen who smokes, do what you can to help them with problem solving. Older siblings and friends are the most influential people in a teen’s life. If you happen to be one of them, help that teen learn the underlying skills they need to eventually walk away from tobacco.

• Teach them how to brainstorm. If you’re not sure of the process, Google it. You will recognize it when you see it on paper.
• Ask them to tell you “the best way” they ever saw another kid say “no” to someone else
• Get them talking about how they see others handle problems: ask about their teachers, parents, relatives, older siblings.
• Ask a little bit every now and then, and certainly not all at once.
• Avoid the topic of smoking entirely.

Over time, they will start thinking about problems and how different people approach them differently. They will recognize that some approaches are better than others. Bring these issues up casually, amid other topics. They will probably surprise you with how well they put 2 + 2 together. When that happens, congratulate them and tell them how proud you are of how well they are learning some of the most important life lessons they will need.

The problem-solving skills you foster will eventually transfer to their smoking, and probably more quickly than if you tease or criticize them directly for smoking.

Reference:

"Depressive Symptoms and Cigarette Smoking Among Middle Adolescents: Prospective Associations, and Intrapersonal and Interpersonal Influences," Michael Windle, Ph.D. & Rebecca C. Windle, Ph.D.; Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, Vol. 69, No. 2

This information received from the American Psychological Association (APA), in Washington, DC.