University of Bristol researchers found a relationship between experiences of loneliness and smoking cigarettes. While there have been previous studies presenting a causal link between the two in the past, until now it was not determined whether smoking behavior leads to loneliness or if loneliness leads to the smoking behavior.
The study
The study was published mid-June, 2020 in the academic journal Addiction and highlighted evidence to suggest that combustible cigarettes were culprits leading to prolonged experiences dealing with loneliness. The research revealed that being lonelier not only increased the likelihood of starting to smoke but also the number of cigarettes people smoked per day. Additionally, it was also a factor that decreased the user’s likelihood of quitting altogether.
What was the result?
Generic survey data was taken from hundreds of thousands of people throughout the UK, including figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) and YouGov’s COVID-19 tracker, which highlighted that 7.4 million people reported a change to their well-being since the start of the pandemic.
“Suddenly, the whole of the UK has become more socially isolated than ever before. For many people, this will likely increase their loneliness,” said co-lead author of the study, Dr. Robyn Wootton.
Using the novel research method, mendelian randomization — a method that measured variation of genes to examine the causal effect of a modifiable exposure on the disease in observational studies — the team found evidence that those who started smoking after an attempt to quit or who took up the habit again after a long period of time smoke-free, did so amid the pandemic because of loneliness. In fact, 2.2 million people across the UK are smoking more than they were before the lockdown.
“A potential mechanism for this relationship is that nicotine from cigarette smoke interferes with neurotransmitters such as dopamine in the brain,” said senior author of the study Dr. Jorien Treur.
What does this mean for your progress?
Whether you’re one of the many who’s struggling with the limitations brought about through COVID-19 or you’ve simply been postponing your quit date because of delayed access to helpful smoking cessation aids like the Logic vape pen, it’s clear that people need more support and encouragement than ever. Be sure to celebrate your small successes, even if it involves taking the step to become smoke-free with a vaping device before tackling the challenge of becoming nicotine-free. Also, utilize your friends and family as your support system, virtual or in-person at a safe distance. You can do this!
Have you considered trying a Logic vape pen on your stop-smoking journey? Drop a comment below to ask us a question.
