Sleep troubles in adolescence relate to future initiation of ENDS USE: a longitudinal cohort design using the PaTh study waves 4.5-5 (2017-2019).

Introduction:
This text discusses a study examining the relationship between sleep troubles in adolescence and the future initiation of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) use. The study uses data from the Population assessment of Tobacco and health (PaTh) study waves 4.5-5 (2017-2019) in a longitudinal cohort design. The researchers assessed whether self-reported sleep troubles at wave 4.5 related to transitioning from never-to-ever ENDS use by wave 5.

Key points:

* The study controlled for demographic and sociographic factors, tobacco availability in the home, exposure to ENDS advertising on social media, past year anxiety, depression, body mass index, physical activity, close friends that use ENDS, perceived harm of ENDS, school performance, sensation seeking, and the susceptibility of youth to initiate ENDS.
* The researchers found that sleep troubles at wave 4.5 significantly and positively related to ENDS initiation by wave 5.
* This finding has important implications for preventing youth ENDS use via protective self-care and social-environmental approaches.
* The study used a nationally representative sample of adolescents aged 12 to 17 in the United States.
* The researchers investigated the relationship between self-reported sleep troubles and later initiation of ENDS use among youth who had never used any type of tobacco product and had not used alcohol or illicit substances in the past year.
* The study found that youth who reported sleep troubles in the previous year were at increased risk of transitioning to ever use of ENDS compared to youth who reported no sleep troubles the previous year.
* The researchers concluded that ensuring that youth receive optimal amounts and quality of sleep may be one such measure to prevent youths from initiating ENDS.

Main message:
The study highlights the significant relationship between sleep troubles in adolescence and the future initiation of ENDS use. The findings suggest that promoting healthy sleep habits and addressing sleep problems in adolescents could be a crucial public health goal in preventing youth ENDS use. The study's results emphasize the need for parents, schools, and health workers to prioritize sleep hygiene and address sleep problems as a preventive measure for youth ENDS use.

holtz K, Simkus a, Twombly E, Fleming M, Wanty N. Sleep troubles in adolescence relate to future initiation of ENDS USE: a longitudinal cohort design using the PaTh study waves 4.5-5 (2017-2019). Preventive medicine reports. 2022;30:102000. doi:10.1016/j.pmedr.2022.102000