Could Smoking and Vaping Be Making Teen Mental Health Worse? Study Sheds Light

Of all respondents, 21.37% reported using some form of tobacco. Specifically, 9.94% used only e-cigarettes, 3.61% used only conventional tobacco products, and 7.80% used both. When it came to mental health, 25.21% of participants reported symptoms associated with depression, while 29.55% experienced anxiety symptoms.

Compared to adolescents who had never used tobacco, those who used e-cigarettes or conventional tobacco products were more likely to report symptoms of depression and anxiety. The highest risk was observed among youth who used both product types.

While the study does not establish a direct cause-and-effect relationship, the findings underscore a clear and concerning association. “While causality cannot be determined, the results from this study showed that all forms of tobacco use were significantly associated with mental health issues,” the authors stated.

The researchers emphasize the need for continued promotion of mental health support among teens and the implementation of targeted interventions to reduce all forms of tobacco use.

Reference: Abdulhay N, Wiener RC, Wen S, Gibbs BB, Bhandari R (2025) Mental health outcomes associated with electronic cigarette use, combustible tobacco use, and dual use among U.S. adolescents: Insights from the National Youth Tobacco Survey. PLOS Ment Health 2(7): e0000370. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmen.0000370