Psychological distress level of cigarette user students at Samsun University

Authors : Meryem Dilek Acar, İlayda Elitok, Zeynep Yaren Aydın, Burak Emirhan Çalışkan, Nazlı Hilal Ertekin
Pages : 84-95
Doi:10.71051/jnlm.1772318
View : 76 | Download : 67
Publication Date : 2026-01-02
Article Type : Research Paper
Abstract :Objective: Free radicals caused by smoking leads oxidative stress-induced damage in central nervous system. The aim of the research was to investigate the possible depression and anxiety levels that may develop as a result of smoking in undergraduate and graduate students at Samsun University. Method: Depression and anxiety levels of 17-30 years old non-smoker (n=310, control group) and smoker (n=223) students were determined by the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale-K10. The Shapiro-Wilks test, the Independent Samples T-test, the One-Way ANOVA model were used for statistical analyses. Relationships between categorical features were examined by the Pearson chi-square test. Findings: The mean age of non-smoker students was 19,60 and the mean age of smoker students was 20,65. Smoking rate was higher in man students (P <.001). The average score of non-smokers and smokers were respectively 25,31 and 29,10 points, according to the K10 (P ˂.001). There were no significant linear relationship between age and psychological distress score in non-smokers (P =.188) and in smokers (P =.209). The duration (<2, 2-<5, ≥5 years) (P =.358) and the amount (<10, 10-<15, ≥15 cigarette/day) (P =.189) of smoking did not statistically effect psychological distress. When non-smokers and smokers were excluded who have risk factor for depression/anxiety, the scores of the remaining non-smokers (n=222) were statistically lower than the scores of smokers (n=99) (P ˂.001). Probable well-being (32,4%) and probable mild mental illness (23,9%) were higher in non-smokers (n=222), while probable severe mental illness (45,5%) was higher in smokers (n=99), according to score ranges (P <.001). Probable moderate mental illness was detected with similar frequency in two groups. Conclusion: When different situations which may cause depression/anxiety were excluded, it was determined that smoking may cause depression and anxiety in students between the ages of 17-30.
Keywords : anksiyete, depresyon, nörodejenerasyon, sigara

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