The Role of Anxiety Sensitivity and Fatigue Severity in Predicting E-Cigarette Dependence, Barriers to Cessation, and Cravings among Young Adults

Abstract

Background: Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use has risen dramatically in the United States among young adults; however, little is understood about potential factors that are related to e-cigarette use and maintenance among this population. Fatigue severity is one promising individual difference factor, as past work indicates that it is related to greater withdrawal symptoms and greater dependence on e-cigarettes, and more barriers to quitting. In addition, anxiety sensitivity and severe fatigue are both uniquely related to poor e-cigarette use outcomes; yet, no known studies have examined whether these individual difference factors are related to e-cigarette outcomes among young adults. Method: The current study sought to examine the unique and interactive effects of anxiety sensitivity and fatigue severity in predicting a variety of e-cigarette outcomes among 685 (69.1% female; M_age = 19.61 years, SD = 1.44) young adult e-cigarette users. Results: Results indicated that anxiety sensitivity was significantly associated with greater barriers for cessation (β = .63, p <.001) and e-cigarette cravings (β = .67, p =.001), but not dependence. Fatigue severity was significantly associated with greater e-cigarette dependence (β = .58, p <.001), barriers to cessation (β = 1.56, p <.001), and e-cigarette cravings (β = 3.34, p <.001). The interactive effects of anxiety sensitivity and fatigue severity did not significantly predict the outcomes. Discussion: Results suggest that anxiety sensitivity and fatigue severity independently predict greater e-cigarette maintenance factors among young adults. The current investigation highlights the importance of targeting anxiety sensitivity and fatigue severity among young adult e-cigarette users.

Keywords:

• Fatigue
• anxiety sensitivity
• electronic cigarette
• vaping
• young adults

Declaration of interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Notes

1 The analyses were conducted with combustible cigarette users removed from the sample. For e-cigarette dependence, step 1 was no longer significant, fatigue severity was a significant predictor, but anxiety sensitivity was not in step 2, and the interaction in step 3 was not significant. For perceived barriers for e-cigarette cessation and e-cigarette craving, step 1 and step 2 were both significant, but step 3 was not significant.

Additional information

Funding

Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to the University of Houston under Award Number U54MD015946. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health. This work was also supported by the National Institute of Drug Abuse [F31 DA051199].