COVID-19 Quarantine Effects on Smoking Behavior and Mental Health of Smoking Adolescents

Objective: The world is struggling with the damage caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Most countries have applied quarantines to combat the spread of coronavirus disease 2019. The aim of this study was to determine the mental health of smoking adolescents and the change in smoking behavior compared to their peers during the coronavirus disease 2019 quarantine.

Materials And Methods: This study was conducted with adolescents registered in the adolescent outpatient clinic with no record of psychiatric illness. The mental health of smoking (n = 50) and non-smoking (n = 121) adolescents was evaluated using the Brief Symptom Inventory. Smoking adolescents have been questioned about the change in smoking behavior since quarantine began.

Results: The rates of depression and hostility symptoms were significantly higher in smoking than in nonsmoking adolescents. Male smokers had significantly higher depression and hostility symptoms than male non-smokers. However, no significant difference was observed between the rates of female smokers and non-smokers. It was determined that 54% (27) of the smokers reduced their smoking, while 14% (7) smoked more than before and 3.5% of former smokers stated that they quit smoking during quarantine and these people were included in the non-smoker group.

Conclusion: It is not surprising that the mental health of adolescents was affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 quarantine. Our findings revealed the necessity to closely monitor the mental health of smoking adolescents, especially males smokers. The results of our study suggest that encouraging adolescents who smoke to quit during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic may be more effective than before quarantine.