Trends in Mental Health Symptoms, Nicotine Product Use, and Their Association Over Time among Adoles

Hackworth EE, Vidaña-Pérez D, O'Neal R, Kim M, Fillo J, Hammond D, Thrasher JF.
Trends in Mental Health Symptoms, Nicotine Product Use, and Their Association Over Time among Adolescents in Canada, England, and the US: Findings from the ITC Adolescents Tobacco and Vaping Survey, 2020-2023
Nicotine Tob Res. 2025 Jun 23;27(7):1256-1264. doi: 10.1093/ntr/ntaf015. PMID: 39820468; PMCID: PMC12187464.

Introduction: There is a well-established bidirectional relationship between cigarette smoking and internalizing mental health (IMH) symptoms (eg, symptoms of depression, symptoms of anxiety). However, it is unclear whether IMH symptoms are associated with using different types or combinations of nicotine products (eg, combustible, noncombustible, exclusive product use, or multi-product use). The purpose of this study is to improve our understanding of the relationship between adolescent IMH symptoms and use of a wide variety of nicotine products by examining the association between IMH symptoms and current nicotine use from 2020 to 2023.

Aims and methods: Data come from the 2020 to 2023 waves of the International Tobacco Control (ITC) Adolescents Tobacco and Vaping Survey, an online repeat cross-sectional survey of adolescents aged 16-19 in Canada, England, and the United States (n = 80,427). Current nicotine use was examined in four categories: (1) no use, (2) exclusive noncombustible product use, (3) exclusive combustible product use, and (4) use of both product types. Respondents reported current symptoms of depression or anxiety, and we generated a dichotomous IMH symptoms variable (yes vs. no). We examined the association between IMH symptoms and current nicotine use using multinomial logistic regression models that adjusted for covariates.

Results: IMH symptoms were most strongly associated with use of both product types (adjusted relative risk ratio [ARRR]: 1.91, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.80 to 2.03), followed by exclusive noncombustible use (ARRR: 1.70, 95% CI = 1.61 to 1.80), and then exclusive combustible use (ARRR: 1.29, 95% CI = 1.21 to 1.37).

Conclusions: Adolescents with IMH symptoms are more likely to use nicotine products in general than adolescents without IMH symptoms. Specifically, noncombustible product use may have a particularly strong relationship with poor mental health among adolescents. Longitudinal research is needed to better understand directionality.

Implications: This study provides an up-to-date understanding of how mental health and nicotine use are related among adolescents, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath. Results indicate that youth mental health may be related to nicotine use, particularly noncombustible use, which is largely driven by e-cigarette use. Efforts to reduce youth e-cigarette use may consider emphasizing its relationship with mental health. Efforts to promote e-cigarette use as a less harmful alternative to cigarette smoking should be aware of the association between vaping and youth mental health.