Differences in perceptions of e-cigarettes across daily and non-daily users

E-cigarette use has increased significantly over the past decade. Among the growing population of e-cigarette users, several pattern-based subgroups have emerged, including daily and non-daily users. Daily users are at greater risk for experiencing negative health consequences from use. Yet, little is understood about underlying e-cigarette processes that may be related to daily use relative to non-daily use.

The present study sought to investigate differences in three clinically-relevant e-cigarette processes, including perceived risks (including both absolute and comparable risks to combustible cigarettes), benefits, and innovation of e-cigarettes between daily and non-daily users. The study included 564 adult current e-cigarette users (51.1% female, M_age = 35.1 years, SD = 10.2).

Results indicated a significant difference in levels of perception for all three dependent variables, such that daily users reported a higher level of perceived risks, benefits, and innovation for e-cigarettes.

Overall, the current study provides empirical evidence that perceived risks, benefits and innovations may be more strongly endorsed by more daily e-cigarette uses. Importantly, this study adds to evolving, but thus far limited, knowledge of e-cigarettes by highlighting how frequency of e-cigarette use relates to beliefs about e-cigarette use.