STUDY SAD-SMOKE: RELATION BETWEEN TABAGISM AND STRESS, ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION IN ADOLESCENT

Introduction / Objectives: Tabagism is the leading preventable cause of disease and premature death. Most start in their teens. Identify the susceptible adolescents and related factors is one important step for primary prevention to reduce the incidence of smoking. This study aimed the description of tobacco use by adolescents, identifying key-factors for this behavior and verifying association between smoking and adolescent’s stress, anxiety and depression (SAD). Methods: Cross-sectional, descriptive study with analytical component. Convenience sample: 13-15 years attending the 9th grade in schools of Leiria. Questionnaire: self-fulfillment, confidential, anonymous (includes parts of GYTS and EADS-C). Statistical analysis: SPSS 20.0. Numerical variables: univariate descriptive analysis (minimum, average, maximum, median and standard deviation). Categorical variables: described as absolute and relative frequencies. Association between the variables smoking and SAD: chi-square test (0,05 significance level). Results / Conclusion: 251 adolescents, 51,4% female, mean age 14,6±0,5 years. 32,7% of teens has tried smoking, only 6,8% smoked in the last month. Smoker’s gender distribution: 50%. Teens believe that smoking is harmful (94,8%). Most don’t think that smokers have more friends, more at ease in a social event. Smoking girls are considered less attractive. 59% have no smoking parents. 21,9% didn’t show any SAD symptoms. There was no statistically significant association between smoking and SAD (p>0,05). This study allowed a better understanding of tobacco use, attitudes and behaviors associated. Try smoking and the prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress was high in this sample. These results may provide a contribution to outline strategies of prevention in adolescents.