Ansiedad, depresión y estrés relacionados con consumo de tabaco en universitarios paceños

Tobacco use continues to be a serious public health problem, as it is a risk factor for multiple chronic diseases and is associated with mental health disorders. In this context, this research analyzed the relationship between anxiety, depression, stress, and tobacco use among university students in the southern area of La Paz, Bolivia. The study aimed to determine the relationship between thesepsychological variables and tobacco use among young university students. A non-experimental, descriptive-correlational design was adopted, with a sample of 396 students from private universities, aged between 18 and 28 years. The DASS-21 scale (alfa=0.93) was used to measure depression, anxiety, and stress, and the NDSS (=0.80) was used to assess nicotine dependence. The results revealed a low but significant correlation between stress and tobacco use (r=0.195), while no significant associations were found with anxiety or depression. Furthermore, it was shown that a considerable number of students have moderate to high levels of tobacco use, particularly in contexts of academic and social pressure.