Correlates of tobacco dependence and motivation to quit among young people receiving mental health treatment

BackgroundYoung people with mental health concerns are at high-risk for initiation and continuation of tobacco use. To inform treatment needs, the current study sought to describe tobacco dependence, motivations to quit and associated sociodemographic factors among young people seen in mental health settings.MethodsSixty adolescent and young adult smokers (age mean = 19.5 years, range 13–25) receiving outpatient mental health treatment completed measures of tobacco dependence, motivation to quit smoking, mental health, and social environmental factors.ResultsParticipants averaged 8.0 cigarettes per day (SD = 6.6) and moderate nicotine dependence (mFTQ M = 4.8, SD = 1.6). Participants’ mean rating (10-point scales) of perceived difficulty with avoiding relapse during a quit attempt was significantly higher (M = 6.7, SD = 2.6), than ratings of desire (M = 5.1, SD = 2.6) and perceived success (M = 4.6, SD = 2.6) with quitting. Over half (52%) did not intend to quit smoking in the next 6 months, and few (11%) were prepared to quit in the next 30 days. Mental health treatment and symptomatology measures were unrelated to level of dependence or motivation to quit. Among the social environmental factors, having close friends who smoke was associated with greater perceived difficulty with avoiding relapse during a quit attempt (r = 0.25, p < 0.01).ConclusionsIn this sample of adolescent and young adult smokers in mental health treatment, moderate levels of tobacco dependence and motivation to quit were observed and found to be unrelated to mental health measures. Over half of the sample was not intending to quit smoking in the near future, supporting the need for treatment strategies aimed at increasing motivation.