Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41809253›Full record

ArticleHealth science reports2026

Nicotine Dependence and Mental Health Among Syrian University Students: The Role of E-Cigarette Use: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Mohammad Basheer Alameer, Omar Al Emam, Laila Yakoub-Agha, Seba Alkadi, Mohammad Ezaldein Al Sahan Al Azzawi, Noor Haidar, Rana Habeeb, Kenda Jawich

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Health science reports, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Mohammad Basheer AlameerFaculty of Medicine Damascus University Damascus Syria.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0001-7156-567X
Omar Al EmamSyrian Private University Faculty of Medicine Damascus Syria.
Laila Yakoub-AghaFaculty of Medicine Damascus University Damascus Syria.
Seba AlkadiHigher Institute for Demographic Studies and Research Damascus University Damascus Syria.
Mohammad Ezaldein Al Sahan Al AzzawiFaculty of Pharmacy International University for Science and Technology Daraa Syria.
Noor HaidarFaculty of Pharmacy Tishreen University Lattakia Syria.
Rana HabeebDepartment of Biochemistry International University of Science and Technology Daraa Syria.
Kenda JawichDepartment of Biochemistry International University of Science and Technology Daraa Syria.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6471-6644

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background and Aims: Nicotine dependence is a growing concern, particularly among young adults. While e-cigarettes are marketed as smoking cessation tools, evidence suggests they may contribute to increased dependence and dual use. Additionally, nicotine use has been linked to mental health disorders, yet research exploring these associations among Syrians is limited. This study examines e-smoking patterns among Syrian university students, assesses nicotine dependence, and investigates correlations with anxiety and depression. Methods: A cross-sectional web-based survey was distributed via social media, targeting university students. A 53-item questionnaire collected demographic and smoking data, while validated scales, namely Hooked on Nicotine Checklist (HONC), E-cigarette Dependence Scale (EDS), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), were used to assess nicotine dependency, depression, and anxiety. Results: Among 1092 participants, 661 (60.5%) were female. A total of 376 (34.4%) were current or past smokers. High nicotine dependence was observed, with 61% of e-cigarette users scoring above 21 on the EDS. Mean dependence scores among vapers were 28.85 ± 20.1 (EDS) and 5.8 ± 3.07 (HONC). Daily e-cigarette use correlated positively with dependence ( Conclusion: E-cigarette use among Syrian university students is linked to nicotine dependence and mental health concerns. Our findings challenge their role in smoking cessation and highlight the need for regulatory policies and public health interventions.

Indexed as

e‐cigarettesmental healthnicotine dependenceSyria

Identifiers

PMID41809253
PMCPMC12968314

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.