The research conducted by Yager was based on a sample of adolescents who were surveyed on four occasions at yearly intervals over the period from 12 to 16 years of age. The time during which smoking onset and escalation occurs for the majority of the population. The measures for the two stress indices were negative affect and negative life events, and for cigarette smoking were obtained at all assessments. Therefore, the study was able to compare the hypotheses that stress increases smoking and/or smoking increases stress (Yager, 2003).
The relationship between tobacco smoking and stress have long been an area of controversy. (Parrot, 1999) The basic argument for this is that adult smokers claim that smoking allows them to relax, but they report to being more stressed out then non-smokers. This link between smoking and stress is also available in teens that smoke also. Parrot notes that when smokers stop smoking there stress tends to gradually decrease over time. The majority of smokers have reported feeling more relaxed when they are smoking a cigarette and state that mood control is an important reason for smoking. (Parrot, 1999) Parrot found out that 80% of smokers agreed with these statements, indicating that cigarette smoking is relaxing and pleasurable. "Smoking relaxes me when I am upset or .
nervous," "Smoking calms me down." These statements suggest that cigarettes are a mood modifier. Also noted, was that regular smokers report adverse mood swings when they have not smoked recently, with feelings of stress and irritability building up during periods of nicotine withdrawal. "Smoking doesn't make the smoker less irritable or vulnerable to annoyance, not smoking or insufficient nicotine makes him more vulnerable." (Parrot, 1999) Parrot goes on to state that when smokers are asked about their moods over the day, they typically report a pattern of repetitive mood swings, with normal moods during smoke inhalation followed by periods of increasing stress between cigarettes.
