Gender Difference in the Association Between E-Cigarette Use and Depression among US Adults

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Mental Health Research

Background:

• Depression is a significant public health concern affecting millions globally.
• E-cigarette use, or vaping, has rapidly increased, particularly among young adults.
• Understanding the relationship between vaping and mental health is crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between e-cigarette use and depression in US adults.
• To examine gender-specific differences in the e-cigarette use-depression relationship.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from 174,351 US adults (aged 18+) from the 2017 BRFSS and MYAATS.
• Employed multivariate logistic regression models for data analysis.
• Adjusted for covariates including age, race, education, income, and smoking status.

Main Results:

• Current daily, non-daily, and former e-cigarette users showed significantly higher odds of depression compared to never users.
• Women exhibited increased odds of depression compared to men.
• Male current daily e-cigarette users had higher odds of depression compared to female never users.

Conclusions:

• E-cigarette use is positively associated with depression across genders in US adults.
• While women are generally more susceptible to depression, vaping impacts mental health in both sexes.
• Findings highlight the need for public health strategies addressing vaping and mental well-being.