Volker, Maja P. and Callies, Carolin M. and Frank, Josef and Foo, Jerome C. and Reinhard, Iris and Zillich, Lea and Klinger-Konig, Johanna and Grabe, Hans Jorgen and Beule, Achim G. and Erhardt-Lehmann, Angelika and Pabst, Alexander and Riedel-Heller, Steffi G. and Baune, Bernhard T. and Trenkwalder, Claudia and Wagner, Michael and Krist, Lilian and Keil, Thomas and Pischon, Tobias and Nimptsch, Katharina and Schulze, Matthias B. and Schmidt, Borge and Mikolajczyk, Rafael and Obi, Nadia and Harth, Volker and Klett-Tammen, Carolina J. and Becher, Heiko and Greiser, Karin H. and Karch, Andre and Schipf, Sabine and Meinke-Franze, Claudia and Bohmann, Patricia and Leitzmann, Michael and Brenner, Hermann and Mons, Ute and Schwarz, Emanuel and Berger, Klaus and Mata, Jutta and Witt, Stephanie H. and Streit, Fabian (2025) From cigarettes to symptoms: the association between smoking and depression in the German National Cohort (NAKO). BMC PUBLIC HEALTH, 26 (1): 301. ISSN , 1471-2458
Full text not available from this repository. (Request a copy)Abstract
BackgroundAlthough the association between smoking and depression is well-established, the underlying mechanisms and contextual factors remain insufficiently understood. We examined the association between smoking and depression, including detailed dose-response and timing-related relationships, using baseline data from a large population-based cohort, the German National Cohort (NAKO).MethodsThe analysis comprised 173,890 participants (19-72 years, 50.21% female). Lifetime and current depression were assessed via self-reported physician's diagnosis, the Major Depressive Disorder module of the MINI International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI), and the depression scale of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Smoking behavior was assessed using self-reported smoking status, age at initiation, cigarettes per day, and time since smoking cessation. Associations between smoking and depression measures were analyzed using regression models adjusted for sex, age, age(2), education, Body Mass Index, and alcohol consumption.ResultsLifetime depression was more prevalent among individuals who currently or formerly smoked compared to those who never smoked. Currently smoking individuals also reported most current depressive symptoms, followed by formerly smoking individuals and those who never smoked. A dose-response relationship was observed, with more cigarettes per day being associated with more current depressive symptoms. Later age at smoking initiation was associated with later depression onset. Time since smoking cessation was positively associated with time since last depressive episode and negatively with current depressive symptoms.ConclusionsOur findings support an association between smoking and depression. Robust dose-response relationships were found, with higher cigarette consumption associated with more severe depressive symptoms, and longer time since cessation linked to lower depression levels. These results highlight smoking as a meaningful and modifiable contributor to current and lifetime depression, suggesting that quitting smoking or reducing cigarette consumption may benefit mental health. Early prevention of smoking initiation, along with integrated approaches that combine smoking cessation support with mental health care, may help reduce both smoking rates and depression burden.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | NICOTINE DEPENDENCE; MAJOR DEPRESSION; ANXIETY; ONSET; RISK; AGE; CESSATION; SEVERITY; LIFE; Cigarette smoking; Depressive disorder; Smoking cessation; Age of onset |
| Subjects: | 100 Philosophy & psychology > 150 Psychology 600 Technology > 610 Medical sciences Medicine |
| Divisions: | Medicine > Institut für Epidemiologie und Präventivmedizin |
| Depositing User: | Dr. Gernot Deinzer |
| Date Deposited: | 24 Mar 2026 06:33 |
| Last Modified: | 24 Mar 2026 06:33 |
| URI: | https://pred.uni-regensburg.de/id/eprint/68085 |
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