Aims: Data from the Teenage Attitudes and Practices Survey were analyzed to assess the relationship between depressive symptoms and cigarette smoking. DESIGNS, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS: Nationally representative sample of adolescents interviewed in 1989 and again in 1993.
Measurements: Prevalence rate and adjusted odds ratio for smoking at follow-up by depressive symptoms status at baseline.
Findings: Adolescents with depressive symptoms were more likely than other adolescents to start smoking.
Conclusions: The associations between depressive symptoms and regular smoking appears to be established by adolescence.