Summary
Introduction:
This text is a research article that investigates the relationship between parent and offspring use of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), such as e-cigarettes, among families in the Seattle Social Development Project – The Intergenerational Project (SSDP-TIP). The study aims to determine whether parent ENDS use predicts offspring ENDS use above and beyond parental combustible cigarette use. The article also explores the role of parent and offspring perceptions of the safety of ENDS in predicting offspring ENDS use.
Key Points:
* The study uses prospective longitudinal data from parents and offspring to test the association between parent ENDS use and offspring ENDS use.
* The sample includes 295 families, with 7% of parents identifying as Native American/Alaskan Native, 18% as Asian American, 28% as African American, and 47% as European American.
* The study uses multilevel modeling to analyze data collected in 2015, 2016, and 2017, with 53% of the offspring being female.
* The study controls for parent combustible cigarette use and examines the role of parent and offspring perceptions of the safety of ENDS in predicting offspring ENDS use.
* About 12% of offspring and 8% of parents reported past-month ENDS use. Parent ENDS use predicted a higher probability of child ENDS use, even after controlling for parent past-month cigarette use.
* Offspring perceptions of ENDS safety contributed independently to their probability of past-month ENDS use, but did not explain the association between parent ENDS use and offspring ENDS use.
* Parent perceptions of safety were not related to the probability of offspring past-month ENDS use.
Main Message:
The main message of this study is the importance of preventing ENDS use among offspring of parents who use ENDS. The results suggest that parental ENDS use is a significant predictor of offspring ENDS use, even after controlling for parental combustible cigarette use. This finding highlights the need for parents, health providers, and policymakers to focus on preventing ENDS use among offspring of parents who use ENDS. Additionally, offspring perceptions of ENDS safety were found to contribute independently to their probability of past-month ENDS use, emphasizing the importance of clear and accurate information about the health risks associated with ENDS use for young people.
Citation
Bailey JA, Epstein M, Kosterman R. Parent ENDS use predicts adolescent and young adult offspring ENDS use above and beyond parent cigarette use. Addictive behaviors. 2022;125:107157. doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2021.107157
