A recent study discovered that Australian high school students suffering from severe depression or poor wellbeing are twice as likely to have tried vaping.
The study, conducted as part of the University of Sydney’s OurFutures Vaping Prevention Program, surveyed over 5,000 students aged 12 to 14 from New South Wales, Queensland, and Western Australia.
The study, published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, found that one-fifth of students in years 7 and 8 experienced moderate to severe depression symptoms. Furthermore, roughly one-third of the surveyed students reported poor well-being, while another third experienced high levels of stress. Those with moderate or high stress were 74% and 64% more likely, respectively, to have tried vaping than their peers with lower stress levels.
The study focuses on the concerning rise in both vaping and mental health issues among teenagers, indicating a strong link between the two. According to co-author Associate Professor Emily Stockings of the University of Sydney, the findings highlight the importance of concurrent efforts to address both mental health and vaping among young people.
“If we want to improve mental health and prevent vaping, clearly we’ve got to do these two things together,” Stockings said.
The findings also draw attention to the critical need for early intervention. As students in the study had an average age of 13, Associate Professor Michelle Jongenelis from the University of Melbourne emphasized the importance of supporting young teenagers before they potentially turn to vaping as a coping mechanism for anxiety, stress, or depression.
The study found that 8% of the surveyed students had tried vaping, with the percentage rising significantly among older students. However, the research was limited in scope, as it did not include students from public or educationally disadvantaged schools. Stockings noted that this exclusion might mean the study missed insights from some of the most vulnerable students.
While the study contributes to the growing body of evidence linking nicotine use to mental health issues, it does not provide a definitive explanation for the relationship between vaping and mental health. The researchers intend to continue their investigation as part of the ongoing OurFutures program, which aims to equip students with knowledge and tools to avoid vaping.
The Guardian and the Daily Mail contributed to the report.
