Study: Quitting smoking shows a positive effect on mood

Research from Brown University shows that those who quit smoking might experience an improvement of their overall mood.

Researchers examined the symptoms of depression in people were trying to quit smoking and found that they were never happier than when they abstained from cigarettes. The study followed 236 individuals seeking to stop using tobacco. They all agreed to a “quit date,” however, the ones who only stopped temporarily were found to have better moods during their checkups than when they were smoking.

Participants who never quit throughout the study were found to remain the unhappiest, while those who kicked the habit were found to be in the best mood during the entire study period.

Researchers say that many people use tobacco as a means to treat depressive symptoms such as irritability, insomnia, restlessness and feelings of worthlessness or guilt. However, they added that the use of cigarettes do not cure these ailments, instead they only cover them up for a short period of time.

According to a 2008 survey by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, nearly 20 percent of students in 12th grade were found to have used tobacco.