Summary
Introduction:
This text presents the results of a longitudinal cohort study examining the relationship between combustible cigarette smoking, e-cigarette use, and other tobacco use among adolescents. The study aims to identify the developmental trajectories of adolescent e-cigarette and combustible cigarette use and to characterize the adolescents who made up each trajectory using psychological, environmental, and behavioral risk factors.
Key Points:
* Participants were adolescents in the ninth grade, enrolled in one of four public high schools in suburban Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
* E-cigarette use and combustible cigarette smoking were measured every 6 months across 36 months.
* Four conjunctive trajectories were identified, including adolescents who used both e-cigarettes and combustible cigarettes, used neither, only used e-cigarettes but differed in the onset of use and rate of escalation, and dual use of e-cigarettes and combustible cigarettes.
* Unique risk factors characterized these trajectories, including demographic variables, environmental risk factors, psychological risk factors, and other substance use.
* The findings will have implications for targeting and tailoring adolescent cigarette prevention efforts.
Main Message:
The study provides important insights into the developmental trajectories of adolescent e-cigarette and combustible cigarette use and highlights the unique risk factors associated with each trajectory. The findings can inform the development of targeted prevention efforts to reduce tobacco use among adolescents and promote public health. The study underscores the need for further research to better understand the factors that contribute to adolescent tobacco use and to develop effective prevention strategies.
Citation
Audrain-McGovern J, Rodriguez D, Pianin S, Testa S. Conjoint Developmental Trajectories of Adolescent E-cigarette and Combustible Cigarette Use. Pediatrics. 2021;148(5). doi:10.1542/peds.2021-051828
