Psychological correlates of adolescent smoking in response to stress.

This study examined the relationship between adolescent smoking under stress, psychological distress, and social support. Sophomore and junior high school students, N=1,168, completed Derogatis' Brief Symptom Inventory, Spielberger's Anger Expression Scale, and revised version of Coppel's Index of Social Support. White students were more likely to engage in stress-related smoking than were black students (OR=5.74, 95% C.I. [4.00, 8.24]), as were adolescents with higher psychological distress and lower social-support scores. Adolescent smoking prevention and cessation programs should consider incorporating behavioral strategies aimed at coping with psychological distress and strengthening social support as students may smoke in response to stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]