Association between passive smoking and mental distress in adult never-smokers: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

ObjectiveMany studies have suggested exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) is a risk factor for various somatic diseases, but only few studies based on small sample size or specific groups have explored the association between passive smoking and mental distress. We performed this study to examine the relationship between passive smoking and mental distress in adult never-smokers of north-east China.MethodsMultistage, stratified random cluster sampling design was used in this cross-sectional study in 2012. A total of 12 978 never-smokers from Jilin, north-east China, were included. Data on passive smoking and baseline characteristics were collected by face-to-face interviews. The 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) was used to measure mental health status. Rao-Scott χ2 tests were used to compare the prevalence between different groups; multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the association between passive smoking and mental distress, and Spearman rank analysis was employed to assess the correlation between passive smoking and GHQ-12 scores.ResultsThe estimated prevalence of mental distress among never-smokers in Jilin province is 24.5%, and the estimated prevalence of passive smoking among the mental distressing group is 65.0%. After adjusting for gender, age, region, body mass index (BMI), occupation, marriage, education, drinking status and family monthly income per capita, passive smoking conferred a risk for mental distress (adjusted OR=1.26, 95% CI 1.13 to 1.40). A high proportion of adults, especially women, were passive smokers at home, but for men, passive smoking was more common at workplace. The more frequently participants exposed to SHS, the higher GHQ-12 scores they got.ConclusionsPassive smoking is an important risk factor for mental distress in never-smokers of Jilin province, which reminds Chinese government of increasing the awareness of public health and take measure to prevent SHS, especially with regard to SHS exposure at home and workplace.

The Association between Secondhand Smoke and Stress, Depression, and Suicidal Ideation in Adolescents

“…The positive association between SHS exposure and mental health may be explained as integrating biological and epidemiological aspects [ 7 , 17 , 18 , 31 ]. The positive association between SHS exposure and mental health may be explained as integrating biological and epidemiological aspects [ 1 , 21 , 22 , 31 , 32 , 33 ]. Some studies have reported that exposure to SHS in stressful states for a long time is related to the risk for negative lifestyle and behavioral problems such as emotional and conduct disorders at a young age [ 21 , 22 , 31 ].…”

“…The positive association between SHS exposure and mental health may be explained as integrating biological and epidemiological aspects [ 1 , 21 , 22 , 31 , 32 , 33 ]. Some studies have reported that exposure to SHS in stressful states for a long time is related to the risk for negative lifestyle and behavioral problems such as emotional and conduct disorders at a young age [ 21 , 22 , 31 ]. A negative lifestyle, manifest in lifestyle aspects such as physical exercise, eating habits, and sleep patterns, can exacerbate mental health problem [ 31 ].…”

“…Some studies have reported that exposure to SHS in stressful states for a long time is related to the risk for negative lifestyle and behavioral problems such as emotional and conduct disorders at a young age [ 21 , 22 , 31 ]. A negative lifestyle, manifest in lifestyle aspects such as physical exercise, eating habits, and sleep patterns, can exacerbate mental health problem [ 31 ]. Furthermore, nicotine reportedly causes physical changes such as increased heart rate, blood pressure, and a breathing rate similar to stress response [ 1 , 34 ].…”

“…Nicotine is associated with stress, mood, anxiety, depression, and aggression in preclinical and clinical studies [ 1 , 9 , 10 ]. SHS exposure reportedly increases levels of corticotrophin-releasing hormone and adrenocorticotropic hormone that is related to mood and behavior [ 31 , 35 ]. Thus, SHS is critical issue in adolescents vulnerable to mental health problems.…”

The prevalence of pre-diabetes and diabetes and their associated factors in Northeast China: a cross-sectional study

“…Other factors: A smoker was defined as a person who smoked at least one cigarette per day within the last 30 days, and drinker was a person who consumed more than one alcoholic drink per week. Participants were divided into those that “sometimes exercise”, with an exercise frequency of one or two times a week; those who exercised more than three times a week were defined as “exercise frequently”; while those who didn’t or seldom exercised were defined as those that “never or rarely exercise” 18 .…”