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 Fagerstrom 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.