Tobacco smoking and depressive symptoms among male medical students in Al-Baha University

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Smoking is a psychosocial problem regarding its causes mainly. In primary health care units, depression is the most common problem that affects the whole body and arises with physical, emotional, and cognitive symptoms. This study aimed to determine the prevalence rate of tobacco smoking and depressive symptoms among male medical students of Albaha university. Also, to investigate the association between tobacco smoking and depressive symptoms among male medical students of Albaha university. METHOD: A cross-sectional study was conducted on All the male medical students in the all-academic year levels of Al-Baha medical college using a self-administrated questionnaire. RESULTS: Two hundred and eight medical students completed the study. About half of the participants (49.5%) weren't smokers. More than two-thirds (69.5%) started smoking in the first academic year. Our statistical analysis results reported; a significant correlation regarding the marital status (P-value = 0.000). The abnormality was significantly higher among current smokers (P-value = 0.013) and markedly lower among nonsmokers (P-value = 0.004). Regarding types of smoking, cigarette smokers were seriously depressed (P-value = 0.000). CONCLUSION: There is a relationship between smoking and depressive state among medical students. Researches must be conducted to explain this relation of depression symptoms with tobacco and not to increase the prevalence of smoking by helping students quit smoking.