Summary
Introduction:
This text discusses a study examining the relationship between e-cigarette advertising exposure, harm perception, and e-cigarette use among college students. The study found that exposure to e-cigarette advertising through certain sources, such as online, TV, and radio, is associated with lower harm perception and increased e-cigarette use and susceptibility.
Key Points:
* The study surveyed college students and collected data on e-cigarette advertising exposure, harm perception, and tobacco use.
* Participants reported relatively low levels of e-cigarette advertising exposure compared to previous studies.
* The majority of participants believed that e-cigarettes were equally or more harmful than cigarettes.
* Exposure to online advertising was associated with lower harm perception of e-cigarettes, while TV and radio exposure had an opposite association.
* Perceiving e-cigarettes as less harmful than cigarettes was associated with increased e-cigarette use and susceptibility.
* The mediating effect of e-cigarette harm perception was observed in the relationship between advertising exposure via online, TV, and radio, and ever e-cigarette use, and between online advertising exposure and susceptibility to e-cigarette use.
Main Message:
The study highlights the importance of e-cigarette advertising exposure in shaping harm perception and e-cigarette use among college students. The findings suggest that public health campaigns emphasizing the absolute harm of e-cigarettes may reduce e-cigarette uptake among young adults. additionally, regulatory actions should address e-cigarette marketing, particularly on the Internet, to prevent e-cigarette use among youth.
Citation
Jiang N, Xu S, Li L, et al. The Mediating Effect of E-Cigarette harm Perception in the Relationship between E-Cigarette advertising Exposure and E-Cigarette Use. International journal of environmental research and public health. 2022;19(10). doi:10.3390/ijerph19106215
