Differences in perceptions of e-cigarettes across daily and non-daily users

Perception of Health Risks of Electronic Cigarette Use Among College Students: Examining the Roles of Sex, Field of Study, Vaping Device Type, and Their Associations

Electronic cigarettes are marketed as a safer alternative to regular (combustible) cigarettes, based on the claim that there is no tobacco burning and fewer toxic chemicals in their vapor. However, recent evidence challenges the notion that e-cigarette aerosols are benign. Heating of compounds in e-liquids to high temperatures can lead to the release of toxic compounds in e-cigarette aerosols. However, users and the public may not be aware of these unique harms, impacting their perception of harm from using e-cigarettes. This research explored the perceptions of harm of e-cigarettes compared to regular cigarettes among 418 college students, aged 18-34, by employing a Qualtrics based smartphone survey. The findings revealed a vaping prevalence of 16.7% among our study population, indicating e-cigarette use among college aged young adults is at concerning levels. Perceptions of harm varied significantly by vaping status, sex, and field of study. Non-e-cigarette users and female students were less likely to perceive e-cigarettes as less harmful than regular cigarettes. Among e-cigarette users (vapers), male vapers and users of pod-type devices, such as JUUL and disposables, were more inclined to view e-cigarettes as less harmful. Among vapers, students in non-health-related fields were significantly more likely to perceive e-cigarettes as less harmful than regular cigarettes, underscoring the impact of educational background on health risk awareness. In conclusion, this study provides crucial insights into the varied perceptions of e-cigarettes among young adults. The results emphasize the need for targeted public health interventions and educational efforts to address this growing public health concern.

Correlates of Perceptions, Use, and Intention to Use Heated Tobacco Products Among US Young Adults in 2020

INTRODUCTION

Despite the increased heated tobacco product (HTP) marketing in the United States, little is known about HTP perceptions and correlates of HTP use and use intentions among young adults.

AIMS AND METHODS

Using 2020 cross-sectional data from 2,470 young adults (ages 18-34) from 6 US metropolitan areas, we conducted exploratory factor analysis to identify factors regarding perceived utility/appeal of HTPs, specifically IQOS, and examined these factors in relation to lifetime HTP use and use intentions, using multivariable logistic and linear regression, respectively.

RESULTS

19.1% had heard of HTPs and 4.1% ever used HTPs; 14.7% had heard of IQOS specifically and 2.8% were ever-users. Use intentions were low (M = 1.27, scale: 1 = not at all to 7 = extremely). Factor analysis identified five perceived utility/appeal factors: innovation (M = 3.17, scale: 1 = not at all to 7 = extremely), cigarette substitute (M = 2.99), and youth appeal (M = 2.82), e-cigarette/nicotine substitute (M = 2.36), and fashionable (M = 2.04). Controlling for sociodemographics and other tobacco use, perceiving IQOS as more fashionable and e-cigarette substitutes positively correlated with lifetime HTP use (aOR = 1.60, 95%CI = 1.17, 2.17; aOR = 1.48, 95%CI = 1.11, 1.97, respectively) and use intentions (β = 0.26, 95%CI = 0.21, 0.30; β = 0.14, 95%CI = 0.09, 0.18); perceiving IQOS as cigarette substitutes negatively correlated with ever use (aOR = 0.74, 95%CI = 0.56, 0.97) and use intentions (β = -0.06, 95%CI = -0.10, -0.03). Correlation patterns were similar among past-month cigarette, e-cigarette, and any-tobacco users.

CONCLUSIONS

Although HTP awareness and use were low, monitoring HTP perceptions and reasons for use as HTPs become more prominent is critical in anticipating their potential impact, particularly as more products seek FDA authorization to use reduced risk or exposure marketing claims.

IMPLICATIONS

Awareness, ever use, and intentions to use heated tobacco products (HTPs) were low among US young adults in 2020. Perceiving IQOS as fashionable and an e-cigarette substitute were positively correlated with ever use and intention to use HTPs. In addition, perceiving IQOS as a cigarette substitute was negatively correlated with ever use of HTPs and HTP use intentions. Continued surveillance on perceptions and use behaviors is needed to better understand use patterns, intentions to use, and reasons for using HTPs.

The moderating role of anxiety sensitivity in terms of fatigue severity and e-cigarette use expectancies

Little is understood about individual difference factors related to e-cigarette expectancies about use. This study examined the interactive effects of fatigue severity and anxiety sensitivity in relation to e-cigarette expectancies among 525 e-cigarette users (51.0% female, Mage = 35.25 years, standard deviation = 10.10). Results indicated a significant interaction between fatigue severity and anxiety sensitivity in terms of positive expectancies (β = 0.57, p < 0.001, 95% confidence interval = (0.002, 0.01)), but not for negative expectancies (β = 0.25, p = 0.08, 95% confidence interval = (0, 0.005)) for e-cigarette use. These results support anxiety sensitivity as a moderator in the relation between fatigue severity and positive outcome expectancies for e-cigarette use.

Vaping-Related Adverse Events and Perceived Health Improvements: A Cross-Sectional Survey among Daily E-Cigarette Users

Web-based samples of e-cigarette users commonly report significant vaping-related health improvements (HIs) and mild adverse events (AEs). This cross-sectional study with in-person interviewing data collection examined self-reported AEs and perceived HIs among Hungarian adult current daily exclusive e-cigarette (n = 65) and dual users (n = 127), and former daily e-cigarette users (n = 91) in 2018. Logistic regression was used to evaluate associations between reporting any AEs/HIs, vaping status, and covariates. More former users (52.7%) reported AEs than current users (39.6%; p = 0.038). Exclusive and dual daily users reported similar rates of AEs (44.6% and 37.0%, respectively; p = 0.308). More current users (46.9%) experienced HIs than former users (35.2%; p = 0.064). Exclusive daily users were more likely to report HIs than dual users (63.1% versus 38.6%; p = 0.001). Former user status and smoking cessation/reduction reasons increased the odds of reporting AEs, whereas nicotine-containing e-liquid use and older age decreased the odds of reporting AEs. Exclusive vaper status, using advanced generation devices, and smoking cessation/reduction reasons increased the odds of experiencing HIs. This study, which used a traditional data collection methodology, found a higher rate of AEs and a lower rate of HIs compared to web-based surveys. Our results highlight that experiencing AEs and HIs is affected by users’ characteristics, in addition to the device and e-liquid type.

Evaluating the psychometric properties of the e-cigarette barriers to cessation scale

Evidence suggests that electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) users have difficulty quitting e-cigarettes. The Electronic Cigarette Barriers to Cessation Scale (E-BCS) was developed to assess barriers to cessation among e-cigarette users. Yet, no work has evaluated the psychometric properties of the E-BCS. The current study utilized data from two independent samples of adult e-cigarette users to evaluate the psychometric properties and structure of the E-BCS. In Study 1, competing models of the E-BCS were evaluated, and initial construct validity and reliability were explored using data from 599 adult e-cigarettes users (52.3% female, M_age = 35.16 years, SD = 10.30). Results supported a unidimensional structure for the E-BCS comprised of 18 items. In Study 2, the unidimensional structure of the 18-item E-BCS and construct validity were evaluated among a sample of 516 current e-cigarette using adults (52.3% female; M_age = 34.74, SD = 11.37). Results confirmed the unidimensional structure, measurement invariance across sex, and construct validity across related e-cigarette behavior constructs and psychopathology for the E-BCS. These findings suggest that the E-BCS is a potentially useful clinical instrument for measuring barriers that may interfere with e-cigarette cessation.

Emotion dysregulation, fatigue, and electronic cigarette expectancies

Emotion dysregulation and the experience of fatigue have both been linked to the maintenance of substance use. However, limited empirical data has evaluated individual differences in these constructs in terms of e-cigarette use expectancies. The present study examined a theoretically relevant model focused on whether the experience of more severe fatigue explains, in part, the relation between individual differences in emotion dysregulation and positive and negative e-cigarette expectancies among 525 adult e-cigarette users (50.9% female, Mage = 35.25 years, SD = 10.10). It was hypothesized that emotion dysregulation, via fatigue severity, would significantly predict greater positive and negative e-cigarette expectancies, which was examined in two separate mediation models. Fatigue severity significantly explained, in part, the relation between emotion dysregulation and positive (b = 0.02, CI [0.01, 0.02]) and negative expectancies of e-cigarette use (b = 0.02, 95% CI [0.02, 0.03]). The current findings suggest that the experience of fatigue helps explain the relation between emotion dysregulation and positive and negative e-cigarette expectancies among adult e-cigarette users. Future work is needed to explicate how reducing fatigue severity in the context of emotion dysregulation may change expectancies about e-cigarette expectancies.

The synergetic effect of alcohol consumption and cigarettes per day on smoking outcomes expectancies among Latinx adult smokers

The present study investigated alcohol consumption and cigarettes per day in relation to smoking outcome expectancies among Spanish-speaking Latinx daily smokers (N = 371). There was a significant interaction between alcohol consumption and number of cigarettes per day on positive smoking expectancies. Specifically, alcohol consumption has a stronger association with positive expectancies for smoking at lower rates of cigarettes per day. No such interaction was evident for negative consequence smoking expectancies. The current study highlights the potential importance of alcohol consumption and smoking rate for better understanding smoking outcome expectancies among Latinx smokers.

Exploring positive expectancies and quit status among adult electronic cigarette users

Initial research on electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use suggests differences exist in levels of use, beliefs, and cessation difficulties among users. However, little research has explored how these factors interact to confer worse e-cigarette outcomes. The current study examined the association between positive expectancies of e-cigarette use and e-cigarette processes among 544 (51.1% female; M_age = 35.4 years, SD = 10.12) adult e-cigarette users who had and had not attempted to quit e-cigarettes, a defining characteristic believed to distinguish those with and without greater e-cigarette quit difficulty. Results indicated that greater positive outcome expectancies of e-cigarette use were significantly related to increased perceived risks, benefits, and barriers to quitting. The strength of the associations was stronger for those who reported past quit attempts compared to those who never attempted quitting. Overall, the current study highlights the potentially important role that positive expectancies for e-cigarette use and quit attempt status play in e-cigarette processes. Findings suggest a possible need to contextualize positive expectancies for e-cigarette use within future e-cigarette cessation tactics and tailoring treatments based on quit attempt status.

Acculturative Stress, Anxiety Sensitivity, and Smoking among Spanish-Speaking Latinx Adult Smokers

Objectives: Although acculturative stress is a known individual difference factor related to poor health, little is understood about its relationship to smoking among Latinx adults. One transdiagnostic factor that may serve a mediational role in the relation between acculturative stress and smoking is anxiety sensitivity. The current study evaluated whether anxiety sensitivity mediated the relations between acculturative stress and smoking among a large sample of adult Spanish-speaking Latinx smokers. Method: Participants were 359 Spanish-speaking Latinx daily smokers (58.8% female, M_age= 33.2 years, SD = 9.7) who provided self-report data on acculturative stress, anxiety sensitivity, and smoking outcomes of cigarette dependence, perceived barriers for quitting cigarettes, and severity of problems during past quit attempts. Independent mediation models were conducted for each smoking outcome, with acculturative stress entered as the predictor and anxiety sensitivity entered as the proposed explanatory factor. Results: There were statistically significant indirect effects of acculturative stress via anxiety sensitivity in relation to cigarette dependence, perceived barriers for quitting cigarettes, and severity of problems during past quit attempts. Conclusions: The present findings provide novel evidence that anxiety sensitivity serves a mediational role in relations between acculturative stress and smoking outcomes among Latinx adult smokers.

Factors Associated with Electronic Cigarette Use among Young Adults: The French "Trajectoires EpidéMiologiques en POpulation" (TEMPO) Cohort Study

Background: Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are sold in France since 2010 and have rapidly become popular. However, factors associated with e-cigarette use among young adults are not well known. Methods: We used data from the 2015 French TEMPO community based cohort study, restricted to current and former smokers with data on e-cigarette use (n = 368 adults, 23-41 years). Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire including information on family status, educational attainment, occupation and type of work contract, health problems, alcohol and cannabis use, electronic cigarette use, as well as perceptions of e-cigarettes. Use of traditional tobacco was assessed in 2011 and 2015. Data were analyzed using logistic regression models. Results: Among current and former smokers, 26.9% reported lifetime e-cigarettes use and 15.2% current use. Factors associated with lifetime use were: low socioeconomic position (OR = 2.2; 95% CI = 1.2-4.2), traditional cigarette use (OR associated with smoking in 2011 and 2015 = 13.1; 95% CI = 5.2-32.6) and positive perceptions of e-cigarettes (OR = 4.4; 95% CI = 2.4-8.1) as well as asthma (OR = 2.1; 95% CI = 0.9-4.9) and overweight/obesity (OR = 2.5, 95% CI = 0.9-6.9). Factors associated with current use were traditional cigarette smoking (OR associated with smoking in 2011 and 2015 = 3.9; 95% CI= 1.3-12.2) and positive perceptions of e-cigarettes (OR =4.4; 95% CI = 2.3-8.4). Conclusions: Young adults who use e-cigarettes tend to persist in smoking traditional cigarettes. The conditions under which e-cigarette use can help individuals quit traditional tobacco products remain to be elucidated.