Sydney — A new study has revealed a concerning link between vaping and mental health issues among Australian high school students, with those exhibiting severe depression or poor wellbeing being twice as likely to have tried vaping.
The research, part of the University of Sydney’s OurFutures vaping prevention program, surveyed over 5,000 students aged 12 to 14 from 40 schools across New South Wales, Queensland, and Western Australia. The study, published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, highlights the urgent need for integrated early intervention strategies that address both mental health and vaping.
Key Findings
The study found that one-fifth of students in Years 7 and 8 displayed symptoms of moderate to severe depression. In addition, one-third of students reported poor wellbeing, another third experienced high stress, and one-fifth had high anxiety levels. Notably, students reporting moderate or high stress were 74% and 64% more likely to have tried vaping compared to those with low stress levels. Anxiety levels, however, showed little correlation with vaping behavior.
Associate Professor Emily Stockings from the University of Sydney, a co-author of the study, stressed the importance of addressing both mental health and vaping simultaneously. “If we want to improve mental health and prevent vaping, we need to tackle these issues together,” she said.
Increasing Vaping Trends
The study highlighted a dramatic rise in vaping among students, with the proportion of those who vaped in the past month nearly quadrupling from 2017 to 2022/23. This trend is alarming given that two-fifths of Australians aged 16 to 24 experienced a mental disorder in the past year.
The findings underscore the necessity for effective mental health support for young teenagers, as emphasized by Michelle Jongenelis, Associate Professor at the University of Melbourne. “It’s a critical period for development when they’ve just started high school,” Jongenelis noted. “We need to better support them to prevent turning to vapes as a coping mechanism for anxiety, stress, or depression.”
Demographic Insights
Approximately 8% of students aged 12 to 14 had tried vaping at least once, and 2% had vaped in the last month. These figures increased to about 24% and 13%, respectively, among the 12 to 15-year-old age group, according to the nationwide Australian secondary students’ alcohol and drug survey.
Study Limitations and Future Research
The study, while comprehensive, did not include public schools or those deemed educationally disadvantaged, which may limit its scope. Professor Stockings noted, “We weren’t able to include government schools, potentially missing insights from the most vulnerable and disadvantaged students.”
The research builds on existing studies linking nicotine use to mental health issues but does not explain the causative factors, as data were collected at a single point in time. This study is the first phase of ongoing research in the OurFutures program, which will involve further surveys and training to help students understand and avoid vaping.
The findings call for a dual approach to address both mental health and vaping, aiming to mitigate the rising concerns associated with both issues.
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