Summary: Stress, boredom, and increased free time appear linked to a rise in cigarette consumption among many smokers during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Source: Penn State
Overview
A Penn State College of Medicine study found that nearly a third of surveyed smokers reported increasing the number of cigarettes they smoked per day during the initial months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Researchers identified stress, more free time at home and boredom as the main drivers behind this change. Understanding these factors can help public health officials design targeted smoking cessation and harm-reduction strategies during and after public health crises.
Jessica Yingst, an assistant professor of public health sciences and a researcher with the Penn State Cancer Institute, noted that smokers who increased their daily cigarette consumption may face higher dependence and greater difficulty quitting in the future. The study team emphasizes the importance of recognizing pandemic-related triggers and creating accessible cessation options adapted to pandemic conditions.
The research surveyed 291 current tobacco users from a Penn State tobacco user registry between April and June 2020. Participants answered questions about tobacco use before and during the pandemic, reasons for any changes, and whether they attempted to quit. The sample was 25.6% male, 93% white, with a mean age of 47.3 years (SD = 11.6). No participants reported a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis, though 21.7% described experiencing symptoms consistent with the virus.
Key findings include:
- About 28% of participants reported increasing their cigarette use during the pandemic. The most commonly cited reasons were increased stress, spending more time at home, and boredom while quarantined.
- Approximately 10–15% of participants reported decreasing their tobacco use. Reductions were most often attributed to spending more time around non-smokers (for example, children), schedule changes, and concerns about health.
- Nearly one-quarter of participants (24.5%) made a quit attempt during the pandemic. Among those who tried to quit, roughly one-third said they did so to lower their risk of severe outcomes if infected with COVID-19. Seven participants reported successfully quitting all tobacco use.
Participants’ perceptions of COVID-19 risk revealed mixed beliefs. Two-thirds believed their chance of contracting COVID-19 was similar to that of non-tobacco users, while more than half felt they would be at higher risk for serious complications if infected.
Participant comments illustrated how changes in routine influenced smoking behavior. One respondent explained, “Working at home allows me to smoke at will rather than being in a smoke-free environment for eight hours per day.” Another described quitting immediately after developing symptoms out of fear of COVID-19’s effects on respiratory health.
Yingst suggested that expanding telemedicine, enhancing public health messaging around tobacco risks and COVID-19, and tailoring cessation resources for remote delivery could strengthen efforts to help people quit when traditional in-person supports are limited. The researchers stressed that cessation services should be adapted so that those who want to quit can access safe, effective help during public health emergencies.
This study was conducted by the Penn State Center for Research on Tobacco and Health. Tobacco users who are interested in future research opportunities can contact the center to learn about ongoing studies and eligibility.
Contributors to the study included Nicolle Krebs, Candace Bordner, Andrea Hobkirk, Sophia Allen and Jonathan Foulds from Penn State College of Medicine. Jonathan Foulds has reported paid consulting for pharmaceutical companies involved in smoking cessation medications, including GSK, Pfizer, Novartis, J&J and Cypress Bioscience. Other authors reported no disclosures related to this publication.
Funding: This research was supported by the National Institutes of Health and the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences through the Penn State Clinical and Translational Science Institute (UL1 TR002014). The content is the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH.
About this psychology research news
Source: Penn State
Contact: Barbara Schindo – Penn State
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Original Research: Open access. “Tobacco Use Changes and Perceived Health Risks among Current Tobacco Users during the COVID-19 Pandemic” by Jessica M. Yingst et al., International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Abstract
Tobacco Use Changes and Perceived Health Risks among Current Tobacco Users during the COVID-19 Pandemic
This study surveyed a convenience sample of current tobacco users from the Penn State tobacco user registry between April and June 2020 to assess how the pandemic affected tobacco use. Of the 291 respondents eligible for analysis, most believed their risk of contracting COVID-19 was similar to non-tobacco users, though a majority felt they would face greater risk of serious complications if infected. Around 28% reported increased cigarette use, while roughly 10–15% reported decreases in use. Nearly 25% attempted to quit during the pandemic. Characterizing these pandemic-related shifts in tobacco behavior can inform public health planning and the adaptation of cessation resources to ensure safe, appropriate access for those seeking to quit.