Assessing Adolescent Vaping Norms and Perceptions in a Statewide Multi-Community Project

Abstract

Background: Adolescent e-cigarette use has increased dramatically in recent years and is quickly becoming a serious public health issue. While studies have identified the influence of social norms on the use of traditional cigarettes, few have examined these factors in the context of e-cigarettes and other vaping devices. Objective: The goal of this study was to examine social norms predictors of past 30-day e-cigarette use among high school students in 10 communities located in Minnesota. Results: In our sample (N = 3,285), students who believe most students in their school vape daily are more likely to have vaped in the past 30 days than those who believe most students vape weekly or less frequently. Further, students were likely to have used e-cigarettes in the past 30 days if they perceived that most students approved of vaping (i.e., they disagreed with the statement that, “vaping is not a good thing for anyone their age to do”). Findings from this study highlight social norms related to perceptions that increase the likelihood of past 30-day e-cigarette use. Conclusions: Results from this study lend themselves to norms-based prevention science strategies that are critical to reducing e-cigarette use among high school students.

Keywords:

• Vaping
• e-cigarettes
• positive community norms
• social norms
• prevention

Declaration of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.

Additional information

Funding

The authors would like to acknowledge survey development support from Sara Thompson and Valerie Roche of The Montana Institute. Funding support for this survey was provided by the Minnesota Department of Human Services - Behavioral Health Division.