adolescent E-cigarette Users at highest Risk of Cigarette Smoking Intention.

Introduction:
This text provides an in-depth analysis of a study examining the relationship between e-cigarette use and smoking intention among adolescents. The study uses a person-centered approach to identify subgroups of adolescent e-cigarette users who are most likely to intend to smoke conventional cigarettes. The study also explores the role of various factors, such as background media exposures, attitudes toward conventional cigarette smoking, subjective norms, and control beliefs, in predicting smoking intention.

Key Points:

* The study used cross-sectional data from the Monitoring the Future Surveys of 2014-2017.
* The sample included 1357 8th and 10th grade students who were current e-cigarette users and had never smoked conventional cigarettes.
* Smoking intention was measured using a single item asking respondents if they think they will try smoking cigarettes sometime in the current year.
* The study identified three subgroups of adolescent e-cigarette users: socially-protected, peer-driven, and market-vulnerable.
* The peer-driven class had the highest endorsements of pro-smoking characteristics and was the most likely to intend to smoke conventional cigarettes.
* The study found that ownership of tobacco promotional items, friends' disapproval of smoking, and peer smoking were significant predictors of smoking intention.
* The study also found that perceived harm and addictiveness of conventional cigarette smoking were negatively associated with smoking intention.

Main Message:
The study highlights the importance of identifying subgroups of adolescent e-cigarette users who are at a higher risk of developing smoking intention. The findings suggest that peer influence and ownership of tobacco promotional items are critical factors in predicting smoking intention. Therefore, tobacco control interventions should focus on addressing negative attitudes and norms toward conventional cigarette smoking, emphasizing the risk of nicotine addiction associated with e-cigarette use, and encouraging parental monitoring. additionally, existing policies designed to protect racial/ethnic minorities from targeted tobacco marketing should be revisited. Finally, age-restriction policies that increase minimum cigarette purchase age to 21 should be enforced locally and nationally to reduce access.

Owotomo O, Maslowsky J. adolescent E-cigarette Users at highest Risk of Cigarette Smoking Intention. american journal of health behavior. 2021;45(4):711-722. doi:10.5993/aJhB.45.4.10