The effect of anxiety on nicotine dependence among university students during the COVID-19 pandemic

Purpose: This study investigated the effect of anxiety on nicotine dependence among university students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Design and Methods: This was a descriptive and correlational study. The sample consisted of 503 university students in Turkey. Data were collected online using a demographic characteristics form, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND). Findings: FTND scores differed by gender, family type, and grade level, while STAI scores differed by gender, income, and region of residence (p < 0.05). Fifty-one percent of the participants had moderate anxiety, while 65.2% had low nicotine dependence. FTND and STAI mean scores were strongly correlated (p < 0.05). Practical Implications: The higher the anxiety, the higher the nicotine dependence among university students during the COVID-19 pandemic.