Self-esteem, stress and cigarette smoking in adolescents

Both high stress and low self-esteem have been consistently, though independently, reported to relate to aspects of adolescent smoking behaviour. Recent work on self-esteem, however, suggests that adequate provision of this attribute may protect the individual adolescent from unpleasant dysphoric or harmful behavioural states. In line with this suggestion, the present study sought to extend this to the area of adolescent smoking behaviour. While independent associations were confirmed there was not strong support for a protective effect of self-esteem on adolescent smoking in the face of stressor exposure. A modest sex effect was evident but not of sufficient magnitude to allow firm conclusions. Nonetheless, the results were tempting enough to indicate further investigation.