Premium
Factors associated with intentions to use e‐cigarettes among Australian young adult non‐smokers
Author(s) -
Jongenelis Michelle I.,
Brennan Emily,
Slevin Terry,
Kameron Caitlin,
Jardine Elizabeth,
Rudaizky Daniel,
Pettigrew Simone
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
drug and alcohol review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.018
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1465-3362
pISSN - 0959-5236
DOI - 10.1111/dar.12963
Subject(s) - curiosity , environmental health , psychology , smoke , tobacco use , population , demography , medicine , social psychology , geography , sociology , meteorology
Abstract Introduction and Aims A growing body of evidence suggests e‐cigarette use increases the risk of conventional cigarette use. Assessing the factors associated with intentions to use e‐cigarettes can inform programs designed to minimise uptake, potentially assisting in preventing a new population of smokers. This study developed and tested a model assessing the importance of various factors that may be associated with intentions to use e‐cigarettes among young adults who have never used e‐cigarettes or tobacco cigarettes. Design and Methods A web‐panel provider recruited 429 Australian 18‐ to 25‐year‐olds who had never used e‐cigarettes or smoked tobacco cigarettes (56% female, mean age = 21.17 years). Various individual and social factors were assessed as potential direct and indirect predictors of e‐cigarette use intentions. Results The developed model provided an excellent fit to the data and accounted for 49% of the variance in use intentions. Males had greater intentions to use e‐cigarettes compared to females (β = −0.13). Having a greater number of friends who smoke tobacco cigarettes (β = 0.11) and curiosity about e‐cigarette use (β = 0.58) were also directly associated with greater use intentions. Positive expectancies about e‐cigarettes (β = 0.14), having family members who use e‐cigarettes (β = 0.11), and having friends who smoke tobacco cigarettes (β = 0.07) were indirectly associated with intentions via curiosity. Discussion and Conclusions Curiosity about e‐cigarette use was strongly associated with use intentions. Aspects of the social environment were also important. Further research is needed to identify effective means of challenging positive e‐cigarette expectancies given these were found to be strongly associated with intentions via curiosity.