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Evidence of sex differences in the relationship between current tobacco use and past-year serious psychological distress: 2005–2008 National Survey on Drug Use and Health

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An Erratum to this article was published on 01 April 2014

Abstract

Purpose

Cigarette use is highly prevalent in psychiatric populations. Studies suggest that smokeless tobacco use is not significantly associated with past-year psychiatric morbidity, with evidence that tobacco use differ among sexes. The relationships between current tobacco use and past-year serious psychological distress, major depressive episode and anxiety disorder were therefore examined. Sex differences in the aforementioned relationship were also examined.

Methods

A total of 133,221 adults from four successive independent samples of the 2005–2008 National Survey on Drug Use and Health were included. Prevalence odds ratios and 95 % confidence intervals were calculated using multivariable logistic regression adjusting for demographic factors, survey year, pregnancy (women only), past-year medical morbidity, past-year psychiatric comorbidity, and past-year substance use disorders.

Results

No associations were demonstrated among smokeless tobacco users. Statistically significant sex differences were found for current tobacco use and serious psychological distress (p < 0.001). Both male and female smokers were significantly more likely to have serious psychological distress and anxiety disorder compared to never users, while only female smokers were more likely to have major depressive episode. The strongest associations were found for anxiety disorder among all adults as well as both sexes.

Conclusions

The null associations for both sexes for smokeless tobacco may support a reduced risk profile. Female cigarette smokers may be more vulnerable to subclinical distress and depression than males. Studies using other nationally representative samples are needed to confirm these data.

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Acknowledgments

We acknowledge the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) for permitting the use of the NSDUH for the years 2005–2008. Data for NSDUH 2005–2008 are from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Rockville, Maryland and distributed by the Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research. The authors would also like to thank Richard Kerber at the University of Louisville, School of Public Health and Information Sciences for his conceptual guidance and assistance in the original statistical methodology.

Conflict of interest

Nicholas Peiper declares no conflict of interest. Brad Rodu’s research is supported by unrestricted grants from tobacco manufacturers (Swedish Match AB, Reynolds American Inc., Services Company, Altria Client Services and British American Tobacco) to the University of Louisville, and by the Kentucky Research Challenge Trust Fund. The terms of the grants assure that the sponsors are unaware of this study, and thus had no scientific input or other influence with respect to its design, analysis, interpretation or preparation of the manuscript.

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  1. Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, School of Public Health and Information Sciences, University of Louisville, 485 East Gray Street, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA

    Nicholas Peiper

  2. Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA

    Brad Rodu

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Correspondence to Nicholas Peiper.

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Peiper, N., Rodu, B. Evidence of sex differences in the relationship between current tobacco use and past-year serious psychological distress: 2005–2008 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 48, 1261–1271 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-012-0644-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-012-0644-0

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