The relationship between smoking status and serious psychological distress: findings from the 2007 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.

OBJECTIVES

To examine the associations between smoking and quit attempts with psychological distress and also by socioeconomic groups.

METHODS

Using data on 172,938 adult respondents from the 2007 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System we used the Kessler-6 scale to assess psychological distress among never, former, some-day, and everyday smokers and smokers attempting to quit.

RESULTS

Everyday smokers and attempting quitters had higher mean levels of 30-day psychological distress than never smokers. Compared with never smokers, the odds of having serious psychological distress (SPD) were: former smokers, 1.3 (95 % CI: 1.1-1.6); some-day smokers, 2.5 (95 % CI: 2.0-3.1); and everyday smokers, 3.3 (95 % CI: 2.8-3.8). As for unsuccessful quit attempts, the odds were highest for current smokers (3.3 [95 % CI: 2.8-3.8]) versus never smokers. Among current smokers, persons with less than high school education, income less than $ 50,000, or who were unemployed or unable to work had the highest odds of reporting SPD.

CONCLUSIONS

Given the association between current smoking behaviors and psychological distress, future tobacco prevention and control efforts may benefit by including components of mental health, especially for low SES populations.