Citation

Dasagi M, Mantey DS, Harrell MB, Wilkinson AV. PLoS One 2021; 16(5): e0251099.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2021, Public Library of Science)

DOI

10.1371/journal.pone.0251099

PMID

33983989

PMCID

PMC8118454

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between current cigarette smoking patterns and three established risk factors for suicide using nationally representative data of high school students in the United States.
METHODS: We analyzed cross-sectional data from the national Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey (YRBSS)-United States, 2017. Multivariable, logistic regressions examined the association between 3 cigarette smoking behaviors [i.e., past 30-day cigarette (n = 13,731), frequent (n = 1,093) and heavy (n = 880) smoking] and 3 risk factors for suicidal outcomes [feeling sad or hopeless, suicidal ideation, suicide plan] assessed over the previous year.
RESULTS: Among high school cigarette smokers, smoking 11 or more cigarettes per day (i.e., heavy smoking) was associated with 3.43 (95% CI: 1.69, 6.94) greater odds of reporting feeling sad or hopeless, 2.97 (95% CI: 1.60, 5.51) greater odds of reporting suicidal ideations, and 2.11 (95% CI: 1.34, 3.32) greater odds of reporting having ever planned a suicide attempt, controlling for covariates.
CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that it is not simply cigarette smoking, but heavy cigarette smoking that is a risk factor for suicidal outcomes among adolescents.
PUBLIC HEALTH IMPLICATIONS: A comprehensive plan is needed to accommodate heavy adolescent smokers who are at increased suicidal risk.

Language: en

Keywords

Humans; Cross-Sectional Studies; Risk Factors; United States; Female; Male; Students; Self Concept; Schools; Adolescent; Suicide; Adolescent Behavior; Risk-Taking; Suicidal Ideation; Suicide, Attempted; Self Report; Suicide Prevention; Smoking; Tobacco Products; Tobacco Smoking; Cigarette Smoking