Is Smoking Causing You To Feel Depressed?
Smoking is the number one leading cause of deaths in the U.S. and the rates keep rising (Brannon & Feist, 2011). In addition, “it is the largest preventable cause of death and disability” (Brannon & Feist, 2011, p. 324). Smoking can cause you to feel depressed because it can bring about certain diseases and be contributing factors to cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic lower respiratory disease and much more. In this case, how does one go about coping with the effects smoking can bring about? Psychological interventions that can be undergone such as nicotine replacement therapy don’t just have one approach. A combination of strategies are used such as cognitive behavioral therapy, behavior modification, group therapy, relaxation training, stress management sessions, and participating in community health campaigns, just to name a few (Brannon & Feist, 2011).
Ever thought how smoking can alter your appearance? This next video gives you a glimpse into just how critical the effects of smoking can do to your health.
Much research has been conducted in order to further examine smoking and the use and effectiveness of its coping strategies. An article titled First lapses to smoking: Within subjects-analysis in real-time reports, had conducted a study where “real-time data on temptations and lapses to smoke were gathered using palm-top computers. The specific measurement used to better understand this retrospective study was through the Ecological Momentary Assessment. We made within-subject comparisons of the initial lapse, a temptation episode, and base rate data obtained through randomly scheduled assessments” (Shiffman et al). Results showed that cognitive coping approaches came to be more effective than behavioral coping styles in regards to relapse. What was interesting is the result of cognitive (vs. behavioral) coping strategies that were seen as more effective than lapses, which occurred more frequently only “when smoking was permitted, when cigarettes were easily available, and in the presence of other smokers” (Shiffman et al). With these results it provided a basis in the reasoning for certain clinical implications being faced.
Other research such as the one conducted from a study titled A psychosocial approach to smoking prevention for urban black youth, conducts an in-depth investigation to what treatments and approaches specifically accomplish effectiveness for the black community. Hundreds of black youth were randomly assigned to control and treatment conditions after being chosen from urban community middle schools. “Students in the treatment condition participated in a 12-session smoking prevention program which taught resistance skills and general life skills” (Botvin et al). Measurement was designed through evaluation questionnaires and designed through prêt-test post-test control designs. The data indicated that the program reduced the amount of children by a significant amount (56%) and increased the knowledge on the consequences of smoking, expectations, and pressures by peers.
The importance of smoking that the public should be aware of is that it’s not a joke. People should not develop confirmation biases (Brannon & Feist, 2011), which they usually do, and think that they can never be harmed from smoking. Don’t think that one day you can’t be that same person whose apart of the national statistics for smoking. It’s a serious issue that should be dealt with in the beginning. Life’s too short to wait until you adopt a disease and become chronically ill.
Recommendations are to seek help right away with professional such as health psychologists and participating in interventions to quit smoking. Adopting a solid support system is crucial in the process and can make or break your adherence and maintain your smoke-free regime. Sometimes motivation can’t be overcome just by yourself, but with the help of loved ones or people that are going through the same thing you can be able to feel that you’re not alone in it all, which is very helpful in the process. The importance for health psychologists is to be able to restore the control, health, and confidence back into the lives of smokers.
References:
Brannon, L., & Feist, J. (2010). An introduction to behavior and health. Belmont, CA: Thomson
Wadsworth.
First lapses to smoking: Within-subjects analysis of real-time reports.
Shiffman, Saul; Paty, Jean A.; Gnys, Maryann; Kassel, Jon A.; Hickcox, Mary Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, Vol 64(2), Apr 1996, 366-379.
Botvin, G J., Batson, H W., Witts-Vitale, S., Bess, V., E Baker, & Dusenbury, L. (2010). A
psychosocial approach to smoking prevention for urban black youth. Department of
Public Health, Cornell University Medical College, New York, NY 10021. 1989 Nov–
Dec; 104(6): 573–582.
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