e-space
Manchester Metropolitan University's Research Repository

    Associations between Covid-19-related threat, stress, and smoking in UK adults aged under- and over-30

    Walker, Lucy ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1934-9312, Cordero, Maria Isabel, McChesney, Gillian, Gee, Ivan and Grogan, Sarah ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7510-765X (2022) Associations between Covid-19-related threat, stress, and smoking in UK adults aged under- and over-30. Tobacco Use Insights, 15. pp. 1-6. ISSN 1179-173X

    This is the latest version of this item.

    [img]
    Preview
    Published Version
    Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial.

    Download (606kB) | Preview

    Abstract

    It has been suggested that smoking and age are associated with higher vulnerability to Covid-19. While threat of Covid-19 may reduce or stop smoking, increased stress due to lockdown could increase smoking behaviour. This study aimed to investigate changes in smoking behaviour in relation to age, Covid-19-related threat and subjective perceived stress during the UK lockdown. A cross-sectional study was performed. Online adverts were used to recruit UK residents who smoked combustible tobacco any time from January 2020. A questionnaire measured demographic information, smoking behaviour pre- and during-lockdown, perceived subjective stress (PSS), and Covid-19 related threat. Data were collected from a total of 145 participants (58% women, 39% men, 3% non-binary; mean age: 26 years, SD = 7.7), during UK lockdown between 22nd May and 22nd June 2020. Independent of stress and Covid-19-related threat, smoking was reduced in those aged less than 30 years. In participants aged 30 and above, increases in smoking behaviour were associated with higher PSS. The results highlight the relevance of the different stages of life on the relationship between stress, threat, and smoking behaviour. Greater emphasis should be placed on stress reduction for adult smokers aged 30 and above to enable smoking cessation.

    Impact and Reach

    Statistics

    Activity Overview
    6 month trend
    250Downloads
    6 month trend
    88Hits

    Additional statistics for this dataset are available via IRStats2.

    Altmetric

    Available Versions of this Item

    Repository staff only

    Edit record Edit record