Exploring Peers as a Mediator of the Association Between Depression and Smoking in Young Adolescents
Document Type
Article
Department
Community and Global Health (CGU)
Publication Date
2005
Disciplines
Mental and Social Health | Psychiatric and Mental Health | Psychological Phenomena and Processes | Substance Abuse and Addiction
Abstract
Recent research has suggested that depression causes teens to begin smoking to elevate their mood. Other studies, however, have suggested the reverse causal direction: smoking causes depression. To gain a more complete understanding of the relationship between smoking and depression, potential mediators should be explored. This study explored how peer influences could mediate the relationship between depression and smoking. The methodology of Baron and Kenney was followed to test for mediation and moderation. Peers mediated the relationship between depression and smoking. Separate analyses by gender showed that depression remained significantly associated with smoking when peers were included in the model for girls only. Peer influence was related to depressed affect for both genders. These results provide evidence that peer influences are an important variable to take into consideration when addressing a depression smoking relationship.
Rights Information
© 2005 Taylor & Francis, Ltd.
DOI
10.108i/JA200030505
Recommended Citation
Ritt-Olson, A., Unger, J., Valente, T., Nezami, E., Chou, C., Trinidad, D., Milam, J., Earleywine, M., Tan, S., & Johnson, C.A. Exploring peers as a mediator of the association between depression and smoking in young adolescents. Subst Use Misuse, 40, 77-98, 2005.
