Dependence motives of young adult users of electronic nicotine delivery systems

Nicotine dependence contributes to changes in tobacco use among young adults. However, research examining salient dependence motives in young adult users of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) is limited. This study examined the association of dependence motives with ENDS use or lifetime quit attempt, and tests sex moderation in these relationships.

Young adults (N = 304; age 18-24) self-identifying as regular ENDS users and self-reporting vaping within a week of data collection completed an online survey. They reported demographics, past 30-day vaping and smoking days and frequency, and lifetime quit attempt. Dependence motives were measured with the 14-item Wisconsin Inventory for Smoking Dependency Motives. Backward-stepwise models regressed ENDS use behaviors or lifetime quit attempt onto dependence motives, and separately onto the interactions between motives and sex.

Tolerance was positively associated with daily ENDS use frequency (b = 0.34, p < .001) past 30-day vaping days (b = 1.50, p < .001), and negatively associated with lifetime quit attempt (OR = 0.58, p = .005). Loss of control was negatively associated with daily ENDS use frequency (b = -0.24, p < .001) and past 30-day vaping days (b = -1.48, p < .001), and positively associated with lifetime quit attempt (OR = 1.56, p = .002). Craving was positively associated with lifetime quit attempt among males (OR = 1.83, p = .006) but not females (OR = 0.84, p = .51).

Tolerance and loss of control were uniquely associated with ENDS use behaviors across all analytic models, although effects for loss of control were counter-intuitive. Understanding the relationship between dependence motives and ENDS use behaviors or attempts to quit may provide targets for preventive interventions against increased or continued ENDS use.