Smokers smoke more because of corona stress

During the first wave, smokers indicated that they started smoking more mainly out of boredom, now that stress is an important factor

More than half of the smokers indicate that they experience stress due to the corona crisis. Many smokers indicate that they have started smoking more because of the stress. This has emerged from research into smoking and corona from the Trimbos Institute. “During the first wave, smokers indicated that they started smoking more mainly out of boredom, now we see that stress is an important factor.” According to Marc Willemsen, tobacco control program head at the Trimbos Institute:

“This is worrisome. It’s always a good time to quit, but with a lot of stress it can be trickier. It is therefore extra important that people who want to quit receive good support. “

Fewer smokers, but people who continue to smoke smoke more
In the Lifestyle Monitor that was released last week, we see that the percentage of smokers is decreasing. Willemsen: “That’s good news. There is a group where stopping succeeds, also during corona. In the past year, the Trimbos Institute conducted research into smoking and corona on three occasions: in May, August and December. In that research we see that the people who smoke smoke more than before. ” During the third measurement (in December), 24% of people who smoke indicated that they started smoking more due to the corona crisis, while 16% indicated that they started smoking less. For example, one respondent says:

“Before the corona crisis, I only smoked at parties, but now I smoke daily. I experience more tension now that I have to teach the children at home, the youngest can no longer go to daycare and my husband also works at home. ”

Social isolation also causes some to smoke more:

“I experience more tension because I don’t meet many or no people anymore. Because of this I miss positive impulses that conversations often bring. I then escape the here and now by smoking a cigarette. ”

Smoker extra vulnerable to corona
In December we asked people who smoke what made them think in the past 6 months to stop smoking. They are the most motivated by concerns about their own health, the price of cigarettes and because they want to be a better example to their children.

Esther Croes, physician-epidemiologist at the Trimbos Institute: “It is understandable that people who smoke are concerned about their own health. Smokers have less immune systems in their lungs. That is why smokers are generally more susceptible to viral infections and probably also to the corona virus. Once infected, they also run a greater risk of becoming seriously ill. A good time to stop, but it is important to seek help. You can call the stop line (0800-1995), go to the doctor or find information via ikstopnu.nl. ”

Research on smoking and corona
The corona crisis has major consequences for everyone. Some groups are hit harder than others. The way we look at health has also changed. The Trimbos Institute considers it important that policymakers, smokers and non-smokers have reliable figures on the smoking behavior of people in the Netherlands. That is why we set up the Smoking Monitor and COVID-19 at the start of the corona crisis. At important moments in the crisis, we ask smokers in the Netherlands what the corona crisis does to their smoking behavior.

More information
Read more about smoking and corona in us file ‘Smoking, the new coronavirus and COVID-19’

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