Patterns in Mental Health Symptomatology and Cigarette, E-cigarette, and Marijuana Use Among Texas Youth and Young Adults Amid the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic

Abstract

Introduction This study examined patterns in mental health symptomatology and smoking and vaping behaviors among youth and young adults over a one-year period from before to during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Participants (n=2,148) were 16-24-year-olds who completed three waves of the Texas Adolescent Tobacco and Marketing Surveillance Study (TATAMS). Descriptive statistics and mixed effects logistic regression models were used to examine changes in anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms, perceived stress, and cigarette, e-cigarette, and marijuana use from before COVID-19 (fall 2019) to 6-month follow-up (spring 2020) and 12-month follow-up (fall 2020) periods during COVID-19. Longitudinal associations between mental health symptomatology and smoking and vaping were examined. Results Modest increases in symptoms of anxiety and depression were observed from before to during COVID-19. Perceived stress remained high and unchanged. Ever marijuana use increased at 6- and 12-month follow-up, while ever cigarette and e-cigarette use increased significantly only at 12-month follow-up. Marijuana use frequency increased significantly at 6- and 12-month follow-up. Adjusting for socio-demographic factors, increased symptoms of anxiety and depression predicted increases in ever cigarette, e-cigarette, and marijuana use, and past 30-day cigarette and e-cigarette use, but not past 30-day marijuana use. Higher perceived stress predicted increases in ever use of cigarettes and e-cigarettes, and past 30-day cigarette use. Conclusions Changes in mental health symptomatology and smoking and vaping behaviors among young people in Texas varied during this period of the COVID-era. Increases in mental health symptomatology predicted increases in cigarette, e-cigarette, and marijuana use behaviors. Implications This study adds to limited research on the longitudinal impact of anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms, and perceived stress on cigarette, e-cigarette, and marijuana use from before to during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings warrant health messaging and interventions that address the significant impact of worse mental health on increased smoking and vaping behavior, especially during crises like COVID-19 that may exacerbate mental health and substance use behaviors.

Past-Year Mental Illness Diagnosis and E-cigarette Use Status Among a College-Aged Sample: Findings From the National College Health Assessment (2017-2019)

“…To date, there are only a handful of longitudinal studies examining MI and substance use, with overall findings suggesting that MI predicts substance use. 38,39 Additional longitudinal research is needed to determine how e-cigarette consumption may influence symptom severity and level of disability over time. This information could help researchers and health professionals better understand and treat young people who either have been diagnosed with MI or reported current use of e-cigarettes.…”

“…Note. Covariates include age, sex and gender, sexual orientation, race/ethnicity, region, alcohol use, combustible tobacco use, and marijuana use; RRR = relative risk ratio; *denotes statistical significance at P-value < .05.longitudinal studies examining MI and substance use, with overall findings suggesting that MI predicts substance use 38,39. Additional longitudinal research is needed to determine how e-cigarette consumption may influence symptom severity and level of disability over time.…”

The Effect of Eight Weeks of Training Aerobic and Resistance on Selected Functional Capacities Among Women With Depression and Multiple Sclerosis

“…By scoring a total of 10 items, ranging from 0 to 40, a total score was measured. To obtain a dichotomous variable, a threshold of 14 was utilized, a score of less than 14 was classified as "low perceived stress" and a score of 14 or more was classified as "high perceived stress" [24]. FSS: FSS is a 9-item self-report scale to evaluate fatigue, its intensity, and its effect on particular activities.…”

COVID-19 anxiety and related factors amid adjusted epidemic prevention policies: a cross-sectional study on patients with late-life depression in China

“…Much of the existing work has primarily focused on anxiety and depression among young people using online and telephone surveys 15–17. For instance, Stephanie L. Clendennen and colleagues discovered that young individuals in Texas mitigated their mental health symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic by resorting to increased consumption of cigarettes, e-cigarettes and marijuana 18. To the best of our knowledge, there is no study using the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS) to comprehensively investigate COVID-19 anxiety among patients with LLD in China.…”