Tobacco use and subjective well-being in university students from 29 countries: A brief report

Abstract

This cross-national study explored the relationship between tobacco use and subjective well-being indicators (e.g. life satisfaction, happiness, and perceived health status) in university students from 29 low-, middle- and high-income countries. Data were collected from 20 355 university students (median age 20 years, interquartile range = 3), from Africa (n = 5 191), Asia (n = 12 070), and the Americas (n = 3 094). Of the students, 12.2% were current tobacco users, 6.0% occasional, and 6.2% daily or almost daily tobacco users. In unadjusted linear regression analysis, university students who were daily or almost daily tobacco users were less likely satisfied with life and had poorer perceived health. Students who were occasional tobacco users were less likely happy. The lower life satisfaction, happiness and perceived health status effect of tobacco users disappeared after adjusting for age, sex, wealth status, country, social support, physical activity, and fruit and vegetable consumption. The information that tobacco use was not associated with greater well-being may counteract the misperception of the tobacco industry that tobacco use improves well-being.