Depression remains a major public health concern in the United States and is often linked to increased tobacco use. Understanding this association is critical for designing integrated interventions that address both mental health and tobacco control.
This study analyzed data from the 2023 National Health Interview Survey (N = 27,171 adults ≥18 years), of whom 12,988 (47%) reported symptoms of depression. Smoking status was classified as never, current everyday, current some-day, and former smoking. Weighted logistic regression models were used to assess associations between smoking and depression, adjusting for sociodemographic and health factors, with interaction terms to test moderation by sex.
Findings showed that adults with depression reported higher rates of current everyday smoking (9.9%) and some-day smoking (3.4%) compared to those without depression (6.2% and 2.4%, respectively). Adjusted analyses indicated that current everyday smokers (AOR = 1.61, 95% CI: 1.43–1.81), some-day smokers (AOR = 1.53, 95% CI: 1.27–1.84), and former smokers (AOR = 1.47, 95% CI: 1.28–1.69) had significantly higher odds of reporting depression compared to never smokers. No significant interaction effects were observed by sex. Additional sociodemographic characteristics, including age, BMI, and self-rated health, were also associated with these patterns.
These results highlight the dual burden of smoking and depression among U.S. adults and the need for integrated, system-level responses. Public health programs that link tobacco cessation with mental health support can reduce stigma, address overlapping risk factors, and improve overall resilience in high-risk populations.
Depression remains a major public health concern in the United States and is often linked to increased tobacco use. Understanding this association is critical for designing integrated interventions that address both mental health and tobacco control.
This study analyzed data from the 2023 National Health Interview Survey (N = 27,171 adults ≥18 years), of whom 12,988 (47%) reported symptoms of depression. Smoking status was classified as never, current everyday, current some-day, and former smoking. Weighted logistic regression models were used to assess associations between smoking and depression, adjusting for sociodemographic and health factors, with interaction terms to test moderation by sex.
Findings showed that adults with depression reported higher rates of current everyday smoking (9.9%) and some-day smoking (3.4%) compared to those without depression (6.2% and 2.4%, respectively). Adjusted analyses indicated that current everyday smokers (AOR = 1.61, 95% CI: 1.43–1.81), some-day smokers (AOR = 1.53, 95% CI: 1.27–1.84), and former smokers (AOR = 1.47, 95% CI: 1.28–1.69) had significantly higher odds of reporting depression compared to never smokers. No significant interaction effects were observed by sex. Additional sociodemographic characteristics, including age, BMI, and self-rated health, were also associated with these patterns.
These results highlight the dual burden of smoking and depression among U.S. adults and the need for integrated, system-level responses. Public health programs that link tobacco cessation with mental health support can reduce stigma, address overlapping risk ...
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