Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 8, 2026

Impact Assessment of Repeated Exposure of Organotypic 3D Bronchial and Nasal Tissue Culture Models to Whole Cigarette Smoke
Published on: February 12, 2015
Smoking and mental health: cross-sectional and cohort studies in an occupational setting in Japan
1Department of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, Okayama University Medical School, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Okayama, 700-8558, Japan. yoshmino@med.okayama-u.ac.jp
Background:
The relationship between smoking and mental health remains unclear.
Methods:
We carried out a cross-sectional study and a cohort study on the possible association of smoking and mental health in 782 workers. Using a questionnaire including the 30-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-30) and items related to the smoking state, the association between smoking and mental health was evaluated separately in males and females. The subjects were classified into smokers and nonsmokers, and changes in the GHQ score during a 2-year follow-up period were evaluated. To control potential confounding factors, multiple regression analyses were performed.
Results:
The cross-sectional study showed no difference in the GHQ score between smokers and nonsmokers among males but a significantly higher GHQ score for smokers than nonsmokers among females. This difference among females was confirmed to be significant by multiple regression analysis. The 2-year cohort study showed a decrease in the GHQ score in each group and no reduction in the difference in the GHQ score between smokers and nonsmokers among females.
Conclusions:
No difference was observed in mental health between smokers and nonsmokers in males. However, in females, smokers showed poorer mental health than nonsmokers, and this difference remained unchanged even after 2 years.
Related Concept Videos
Observational Studies
There are three types of observational studies – Prospective, retrospective, and cross-sectional.
Prospective Study
Prospective studies, also known as longitudinal or cohort studies, are carried out by collecting future data from groups sharing similar characteristics. One example of...
Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques IV
Statistical Methods for Analyzing Epidemiological Data
Stress and Mental Health
Individuals with depression often experience challenges in both their personal and professional...
Factors Affecting Illness
For instance, risk factors are connected to illness, disability,...
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-IV: Assessement and Diagnostic Studies
Medical History
