Exploring the Link Between Early Smoking Initiation and Nicotine Dependence – A NESARC Data Analysis
Dataset
For this project, I selected the NESARC Wave 1 dataset, a nationally representative survey focused on substance use and mental health issues among U.S. adults.
Research Topic
I'm interested in exploring whether the age someone starts smoking impacts their likelihood of developing nicotine dependence.
Selected Variables
S3AQ3B1 – Age respondent first smoked a cigarette
S3AQ3C1 – Frequency of smoking in the past 12 months
S3BQ1A5 – Diagnosed with nicotine dependence (DSM-IV criteria)
Research Questions
Does starting to smoke at a younger age increase the risk of developing nicotine dependence?
At what age does the risk become significantly higher?
Summary
This study looks into the potential link between early smoking behavior and later addiction. By focusing on the age of smoking initiation and diagnosis of nicotine dependence, the goal is to highlight how early interventions could change addiction outcomes in adulthood.
Literature Review
Prior research supports a strong connection between early smoking and later dependence:
Kandel & Chen (2000) showed that the earlier individuals start smoking, the greater their risk of developing heavy smoking habits and nicotine dependence.
Breslau et al. (1998) emphasized that younger initiation age predicts more difficulty quitting and higher addiction severity.
References
Kandel, D. B., & Chen, K. (2000). Extending adolescent smoking patterns into adulthood: The link between early onset and later nicotine dependence. American Journal of Public Health, 90(5), 692–695.
Breslau, N., Peterson, E. L., & Schultz, L. R. (1998). Smoking cessation in young adults: Age at initiation of cigarette smoking and other suspected influences. Preventive Medicine, 27(2), 217–224.
Hypothesis
"Individuals who begin smoking earlier are more likely to develop nicotine dependence compared to those who start later."
"Decode the numbers. Discover the story."
