The effects of hardcore smokers' depression and self-esteem on daily smoking amount

This is a secondary data analysis designed as a longitudinal study aimed at investigating the effects of depression and self-esteem on daily smoking amounts among hardcore smokers over time. The subjects of this study were 264 hardcore smokers aged 19 years or older who participated in all waves of the 9th–13th Korea Welfare Panel Studies. Self-report questionnaires were used to collect data. Data analyses were performed using SPSS WIN 24.0 and AMOS 18.0, and data were analyzed using a latent growth model. The intercept of depression and self-esteem among the subjects had statistically significant effects on the intercept of the daily smoking amount. The slope of depression and self-esteem among the subjects also had statistically significant effects on the slope of the daily smoking amount. The slope of depression indirect affected the slope of daily smoking amount via the level of self-esteem. It is important to determine the initial levels and the rates of change of depression, self-esteem, and daily smoking amount among hardcore smokers. In order to reduce the daily smoking amount among hardcore smokers, interventions for depression and methods to improve self-esteem among hardcore smokers should be considered.