Depressive symptoms and smokers' perceptions of lung cancer risk: Moderating effects of tobacco dependence

Beliefs about smoking-related lung cancer risk among low socioeconomic individuals: the role of smoking experience and interpersonal communication

“…First, a plausible explanation might be given in terms of literature that shows the link between low SEP and depression, on the one hand, and the positive relationship between depression and smoking behavior, on the other hand. Previous research has indicated that although many smokers are unrealistically optimistic about their health risks, depressed smokers have the tendency to be more realistic about their risks (25). For example, in the US, two studies, one among college-age smokers and the other among smokers from a nationally representative sample, have found that depressive symptoms are associated with heightened risk perceptions (25).…”

“…Previous research has indicated that although many smokers are unrealistically optimistic about their health risks, depressed smokers have the tendency to be more realistic about their risks (25). For example, in the US, two studies, one among college-age smokers and the other among smokers from a nationally representative sample, have found that depressive symptoms are associated with heightened risk perceptions (25). Thus, the fact that depression has also been shown to be generally high among low SEP smokers (8,26) could partly explain the reason why low SEP individuals with smoking experience have higher risk perceptions of smoking than those without.…”

A longitudinal study of the bi-directional relationship between tobacco smoking and psychological distress in a community sample of young Australian women

“…Characteristics related to smoking and quitting behaviour may be different among psychological distressed and non-psychologically distressed smokers. For example, compared with smokers who were not depressed, depressed smokers were more likely to believe that quitting smoking would reduce their risk of lung cancer (Floyd et al 2009). Future research on the difference between smokers with poor and good mental health could help to better target population health interventions on smoking cessation to smokers suffering from psychological distress.…”

Disparities Between Blacks and Whites in Tobacco and Lung Cancer Treatment

“…Depression is associated with continued smoking following a lung cancer diagnosis [48,77], which may worsen the prognosis (e.g., through behavioral and biological pathways such as chronic hypothalamic-pituitaryadrenal axis activation) [78]. Thus, the psychological effects of having lung cancer and depression concurrently may lead to a heightened sense of vulnerability, delaying quit attempts [75]. This is of particular concern for blacks, because studies from the general population indicate that depression is more severe, chronic, debilitating, and undertreated [79] among blacks than among whites, with substantial racial disparities in the level and type of mental health care received.…”

“…Depression is prevalent among smokers as well; the role of depression in smoking may be bidirectional, with smokers being more likely to be depressed than nonsmokers, and, in turn, depression posing a barrier to tobacco abstinence [71][72][73][74]. In fact, depressed smokers may perceive quitting as difficult and stressful, and may use cigarettes to self-medicate depressive feelings [75,76]. Depression is associated with continued smoking following a lung cancer diagnosis [48,77], which may worsen the prognosis (e.g., through behavioral and biological pathways such as chronic hypothalamic-pituitaryadrenal axis activation) [78].…”