Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 11, 2025

Cigarette Smoke Exposure in Mice using a Whole-Body Inhalation System
Published on: October 22, 2020
Cigarette Smoking, Mental Health, Depression, Maryland Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey, 2020
Khushbu Balsara1, Ali Iftikhar2, Panagis Galiatsatos3,4
1Department of International Health, Health Systems, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Background:
Smoking cessation is linked to improved mental health that encompasses the overall well-being and psychological functioning of an individual.
Objective:
Examine relationships between smoking, mental health, and social connectedness among adults in Maryland, US in 2020.
Methodology:
This cross-sectional study used data from the Maryland 2020 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey of adults during the onset of COVID-19. Primary outcomes measured include demographics, depression, and number of not good mental health days among individuals with current and former smoking statuses compared to those who have never smoked.
Results:
Compared to those who never smoked, individuals who currently smoked had an increased relative risk of reporting 14 or more days of not good mental health (RRR = 1.63, 95% CI: 1.35-1.97, P < .001) and a history of depression (RRR = 1.99, 95% CI: 1.69-2.35, P < .001). Individuals with former smoking status also showed elevated risk, with RRR = 1.24 (95% CI: 1.06-1.45, P = .006) for 14 or more days of not good mental health and RRR = 1.46 (95% CI: 1.28-1.66, P < .001) for a history of depression. Widowed, separated, or divorced; unemployed or unable to work; without a high school diploma; or recent physical exam were inclined to have a current or former smoking status.
Conclusion:
We identify critical subpopulations vulnerable to life-long smoking behaviors amid the COVID-19 pandemic including adults under 35 years old, and those suffering from depression, a lack of social connectedness due to unemployment, changes in marital status, and outdated physical exams. The US Surgeon General's 2023 Advisory on the epidemic of loneliness and the 2021 Youth Mental Health Report emphasize the mental health crises among the young in which these findings serve as a compelling call to action for innovating targeted public health interventions.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques IV
Stress and Mental Health
Individuals with depression often experience challenges in both their personal and professional...
Lifestyle Factors and Health
Benefits of Physical Activity
Physical activity, whether through structured exercise or casual activities like walking, biking, or dancing, is a cornerstone of a...
CNS Depressants: Alcohol and Nicotine
Stimulants
Cocaine can be administered via snorting, injection, or smoking. It primarily functions by blocking the reuptake of dopamine, resulting in a euphoric high characterized by an intense sensation of happiness and...
Statistical Methods for Analyzing Epidemiological Data

