Research from the University of Gothenburg reveals a concerning association between teenage nicotine consumption and increased anxiety, depression, and sleep problems, with girls disproportionately affected, prompting calls for further investigation into the gender gap and impact of nicotine products like pouches and e-cigarettes.
Researchers at the University of Gothenburg say nicotine use in adolescence is linked with a greater likelihood of anxiety, depression and other mental health symptoms, with girls appearing especially exposed. In a study of nearly 3,000 Swedish secondary school pupils, almost 80% of girls who used nicotine reported clinically relevant anxiety symptoms, and the pattern held for both conventional tobacco and newer nicotine products such as pouches and e-cigarettes.
A second follow-up study tracking about 1,500 young people in southern Sweden found that smoking was associated with more depressive symptoms and suicidal thoughts. Among girls who increased their tobacco use over time, the researchers also saw a rise in sleep problems, anxiety, low mood and difficulty concentrating. The authors say the gender gap is striking enough to merit further investigation, especially as nicotine pouches have become more common among teenage girls.
The findings are consistent with wider concerns about youth nicotine exposure. The US Department of Health and Human Services says nicotine can interfere with normal brain development and may worsen anxiety and depression, while a systematic review published in Nicotine & Tobacco Research found vaping was associated with higher rates of mental health problems in adolescents and young adults. Another recent Swedish study also linked tobacco-free nicotine products, including nicotine pouches, with anxiety and depression symptoms.
The Gothenburg team also points to biological evidence. In animal experiments published in Neuropharmacology, nicotine altered signalling in the amygdala, the brain region involved in emotion and stress responses, with the strongest effects seen in female rats. Louise Adermark, one of the lead researchers, said the studies show a common pattern across different methods but do not prove cause and effect. The researchers add that social circumstances, stress, alcohol use, other substances and personal vulnerability also shape the risks.
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