Life-Course Associations Between Smoking and Depressive Symptoms. A 30-Year Finnish Follow-up Study.

This population-based cohort with 30 years of follow-up showed that the life course trajectories of daily smoking and depressive symptoms are associated. Persistent daily smokers and those starting late had an increased risk of belonging to the profile with constantly high levels of depressive symptoms during the life course. However, these associations were statistically significant only in males. Actions should be strengthened, especially in males, to prevent smoking initiation, to help smoking cessation, and to identify and treat depression in smokers with significant depressive symptoms.