Impulsivity and Depression in Adolescent Smokers and Nonsmokers

2008 Spring Department of Arts and Sciences Research Scholarship2008 Spring Social and Behavioral Sciences Research Grant2008 Autumn Social and Behavioral Sciences Research GrantLittle research has explored the relationship between depression and impulsive behavior in adolescent smokers and nonsmokers. The current study examined impulsive disinhibition, impulsive decision-making (delay discounting), and self-reported impulsivity in depressed and non-depressed adolescent smokers and nonsmokers (i.e., four groups of 15). Participants were recruited based on smoking status (verified via biomarkers for nicotine) and depression scores using a standardized self-report measure. Recommended cutoff scores for the measure of depression were used to categorize depressed and non-depressed participants. For the measure of impulsive disinhibition, the groups did not differ. On the measure of delay discounting, the non-depressed nonsmokers discounted significantly less (i.e., less impulsively) than the other three groups, while those three groups did not differ significantly. For the self-report measure of impulsivity, the non-depressed nonsmokers were again significantly less impulsive than the other three groups. However, for this measure, depressed smokers and nonsmokers were more impulsive than non-depressed smokers—suggesting depression is associated with greater impulsivity on this measure regardless of smoking status. These findings indicate that depression, even among nonsmokers, is associated with higher levels of impulsivity, although findings are different depending on the assessment of impulsivity considered. Collectively, depressed adolescents may be at a higher risk of cigarette smoking because of the association between depression and impulsivity. Future prospective research may help clarify any causal association between high levels of depression and impulsivity and the degree to which these adolescents may be at greater risk of initiating cigarette smoking.Research Institute at Nationwide Children's HospitalNo embarg