Parent ENDS use predicts adolescent and young adult offspring ENDS use above and beyond parent cigarette use

Prior research has showed that parent combustible cigarette use predicts cigarette use among their offspring. This study used prospective longitudinal data from parents and offspring to test whether parent electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS) use predicted a higher probability of ENDS use among their offspring.

Data were drawn from the Seattle Social Development Project - The Intergenerational Project (SSDP-TIP). Analyses included 295 families; 7% of parents were Native American/Alaskan Native, 18% were Asian American, 28% were African American, and 47% were European American. Multilevel modeling (in 2020) of data collected in 2015, 2016, and 2017 tested associations between parent self-reported ENDS use and concurrent self-reported ENDS use among offspring ages 10-25 years (53% female). Parent combustible cigarette use was controlled. Analyses also examined the role of parent and offspring perceptions of the safety of ENDS in predicting offspring ENDS use.

About 12% of offspring and 8% of parents reported past-month ENDS use. Parent ENDS use predicted a higher probability of child ENDS use (Odds Ratio 5.68, p = .01), even after controlling parent past month cigarette use. Beyond parent nicotine product use, offspring perceptions of ENDS safety - but not parent perceptions of ENDS safety - contributed independently to offspring probability of past-month ENDS use.

It is important for parents, health providers, and policymakers to focus on preventing ENDS use among offspring of parents who use ENDS.