Summary
Introduction:
This text is a summary of a scientific study on the factors that influence susceptibility to e-cigarette use among youth. The study uses data from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study Wave 1 youth dataset collected from 2013 to 2014. The study aims to identify intrapersonal and environmental determinants of youth susceptibility to e-cigarette use.
Key Points:
* The study used a nationally representative sample of youth who have never smoked conventional cigarettes and have seen or heard of e-cigarettes but never used them.
* The study found that 24.2% of youth who have never used e-cigarettes were susceptible to e-cigarette use.
* Psychological problems and rebelliousness were associated with increased susceptibility to e-cigarette use.
* Ever use of alcohol, marijuana, and other substances and household secondhand smoke exposure were risk factors for susceptibility to e-cigarette use.
* Perceptions of e-cigarettes as addictive and harmful worked as protective factors against susceptibility to e-cigarette use.
* Parental use of tobacco products was also found to increase youth susceptibility to e-cigarette use.
* The study suggests that a multi-level intervention approach is needed to prevent youth from being susceptible to e-cigarette initiation.
Main Message:
The study provides valuable insights into the factors that influence susceptibility to e-cigarette use among youth. The findings highlight the importance of addressing psychological problems, rebelliousness, substance use, and secondhand smoke exposure to reduce susceptibility to e-cigarette use. Moreover, the study emphasizes the need for multi-level interventions that target both intrapersonal and environmental determinants of e-cigarette use susceptibility. The study's results can inform policymakers and public health practitioners in developing effective interventions to prevent e-cigarette use among youth.
Citation
Kwon, Elizabeth, Dong-Chul Seo, Hsien-Chang Lin, and Zhongxue Chen. “Predictors of Youth E-Cigarette Use Susceptibility in a U.S. Nationally Representative Sample.” Addictive Behaviors 82 (July 2018): 79–85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2018.02.026.
