Tobacco Smoke Linked to Bad Behavior, Study Says
Boys with asthma who are exposed to environmental tobacco smoke show more hyperactivity, aggression, depression and other behavioral problems, according to researchers at Cincinnati Children’s.
In a study appearing in the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, the researchers said behavioral problems increase with higher exposure levels, but they added that even low levels of tobacco smoke may be detrimental to behavior.
“These findings should encourage us to make stronger efforts to prevent childhood exposure to tobacco smoke, especially among higher risk populations such as children with asthma,” said Kimberly Yolton, PhD, lead author of the study and a researcher in the Division of General and Community Pediatrics at Cincinnati Children’s.
“The largest increase we observed was in overall behavioral problems, but it was interesting that in addition to externalizing behaviors – like hyperactivity and aggression – we also saw an increase in internalizing behaviors, such as depression,” explained Dr. Yolton. “Few studies have found a link between tobacco smoke and depression in children.”
Although no data exist to explain why tobacco smoke causes behavioral problems in children with asthma, Dr. Yolton said there is “quite a bit of evidence” that nicotine in tobacco smoke affects development and functioning of the nervous system, as well as child development and behavior.
Although girls in the study were exposed to higher levels of tobacco smoke than boys, the exposure did not lead to an increase in behavioral problems among girls, investigators said. In boys, however, behavioral problems increased nearly twofold with each doubling of their tobacco smoke exposure, said Dr. Yolton.
