biostudies-literatureMendo CWCanadian Cancer SocietyUniversity of BristolMedical Research CouncilNIAAA NIH HHSNational Institutes of HealthWellcome TrustFonds de recherche du Québec-Santé1771-1778https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC8403241biostudies-literatureUnknown23(10)<h4>Introduction</h4>We examined the mediating role of friends smoking in the association between depressive symptoms and daily/weekly cigarette smoking from adolescence into adulthood.<h4>Methods</h4>Data were drawn from the Nicotine Dependence In Teens study (NDIT, Canada) and the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC, UK) studies. Three age groups were investigated in NDIT: age 13-14 (n = 1189), 15-16 (n = 1107), and 17-18 (n = 1075), and one in ALSPAC (n = 4482, age 18-21). Multivariable mediation models decomposed the total effect (TE) of depressive symptoms on smoking into a natural direct effect (NDE) and natural indirect effect (NIE) through friends smoking.<h4>Results</h4>The odds ratios (ORs) for the TE were relatively constant over time with estimates ranging from 1.12 to 1.35. Friends smoking mediated the association between depressive symptoms and smoking in the two youngest samples (OR [95% confidence interval [CI] 1.09 [1.01,1.17] in 13- to 14-year-olds; 1.10 [1.03,1.18] in 15- to 16-year-olds). In the two older samples, NDE of depressive symptoms was close to the TE, suggestive that mediation was absent or too small to detect.<h4>Conclusion</h4>Friends smoking mediates the association between depressive symptoms and daily/weekly cigarette smoking in young adolescents.<h4>Implications</h4>If young adolescents use cigarettes to self-medicate depressive symptoms, then interventions targeting smoking that ignore depressive symptoms may be ineffective. Our results also underscore the importance of the influence of friends in younger adolescents, suggestive that preventive intervention should target the social environment, including social relationships.Nicotine & tobacco research : official journal of the Society for Research on Nicotine and TobaccoDepressive Symptoms and Cigarette Smoking in Adolescents and Young Adults: Mediating Role of Friends Smoking.PMC84032415R01AA018333-05R01 AA018333G9815508017435704031102215010271102215/2/13/2MC_PC_15018MC_PC_19009092731Maurel MSylvestre MPO'Loughlin JMendo CWDore IfalseDepressive Symptoms and Cigarette Smoking in Adolescents and Young Adults: Mediating Role of Friends Smoking.<h4>Introduction</h4>We examined the mediating role of friends smoking in the association between depressive symptoms and daily/weekly cigarette smoking from adolescence into adulthood.<h4>Methods</h4>Data were drawn from the Nicotine Dependence In Teens study (NDIT, Canada) and the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC, UK) studies. Three age groups were investigated in NDIT: age 13-14 (n = 1189), 15-16 (n = 1107), and 17-18 (n = 1075), and one in ALSPAC (n = 4482, age 18-21). Multivariable mediation models decomposed the total effect (TE) of depressive symptoms on smoking into a natural direct effect (NDE) and natural indirect effect (NIE) through friends smoking.<h4>Results</h4>The odds ratios (ORs) for the TE were relatively constant over time with estimates ranging from 1.12 to 1.35. Friends smoking mediated the association between depressive symptoms and smoking in the two youngest samples (OR [95% confidence interval [CI] 1.09 [1.01,1.17] in 13- to 14-year-olds; 1.10 [1.03,1.18] in 15- to 16-year-olds). In the two older samples, NDE of depressive symptoms was close to the TE, suggestive that mediation was absent or too small to detect.<h4>Conclusion</h4>Friends smoking mediates the association between depressive symptoms and daily/weekly cigarette smoking in young adolescents.<h4>Implications</h4>If young adolescents use cigarettes to self-medicate depressive symptoms, then interventions targeting smoking that ignore depressive symptoms may be ineffective. Our results also underscore the importance of the influence of friends in younger adolescents, suggestive that preventive intervention should target the social environment, including social relationships.2021-01-01T00:00:00Z2021 Aug2025-04-05T14:04:56.838Z2025-04-05T14:04:56.838ZS-EPMC84032413372037610.1093/ntr/ntab046