Adolescents and Young Adults Who Vape or Are Susceptible to Vaping: Characteristics, Product Preferences, and Beliefs

Abstract

Introduction

This study examined differences among current vapers, those susceptible to vaping, and those non-susceptible to vaping among adolescents and young adults (AYAs) in the U.S. We sought to understand vaping-related characteristics, preferences, and beliefs across these populations to inform prevention efforts. Methods: Participants were N=543 adolescents and N=557 young adults recruited in mid-2019 in the U.S. In two separate cross-sectional surveys, we assessed vaping preferences, tobacco product use, and both health harm and addiction risk beliefs about vaping. We ran separate multivariate logistic regressions to assess differences in risk beliefs across the three distinct e-cigarette groups among AYAs. Results: A majority of AYAs were either current vapers (adolescents: 32%, young adults: 36%) or susceptible to vaping (adolescents: 34%, young adults: 24%). In both samples, pod-based devices were the most common device type used, and fruit and mint/menthol were the most commonly used flavors. In multivariate analyses, adolescent (p<.05) and young adult (p<.05) current vapers both had lower risk beliefs about the health harms of vaping compared to those susceptible to vaping. Susceptible adolescents also had lower health harm risk beliefs compared to those who were non-susceptible (p<.05). Addiction risk beliefs seldom predicted use or susceptibility in multivariate analyses, with only susceptible young adults having lower addiction beliefs than those non-susceptible (p<.05). Conclusion: Results from this study highlight the role of health harm risk beliefs among AYA vapers and those susceptible to vaping. Prevention efforts should examine the most potent ways to communicate vaping health harms to discourage AYA vaping.

Keywords:

• Vaping
• e-cigarettes
• susceptibility
• risk beliefs
• adolescents
• young adults

Declaration of interest

JAR has served as a paid consultant in government litigation against tobacco companies. SMN has served as a paid expert witness in government litigation against tobacco companies.

Additional information

Funding

This project was supported by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), National Institutes of Health, through Grant Award Number UL1TR002489, and an internal seed grant from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Hussman School of Journalism and Media. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH or the Food and Drug Administration.