Validation of the Electronic Cigarette Expectancy Scale for Adolescents

Area of Science:

• Adolescent Health
• Behavioral Science
• Psychometrics

Background:

• Adolescent electronic cigarette (ECIG) use is prevalent, necessitating an understanding of associated expectancies.
• Existing measures for ECIG expectancies are limited, especially for adolescent populations.
• This study adapted a validated scale for conventional smoking expectancies to assess ECIG expectancies in adolescents.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the factor structure of an ECIG expectancies questionnaire for adolescents.
• To assess the initial psychometric properties of the adapted ECIG Expectancies Scale for Adolescents (EESA).
• To provide a reliable tool for measuring adolescent ECIG expectancies.

Main Methods:

• Recruited 569 adolescents (ages 14-18) from high schools and an adolescent medicine clinic.
• Administered self-report measures, including the ECIG Expectancies Scale for Adolescents (EESA).
• Conducted exploratory factor analyses and evaluated convergent validity with related variables.

Main Results:

• A three-factor solution was identified: Costs, Social Benefits, and Affective/Weight Benefits.
• All factors demonstrated strong internal consistencies and convergent validity with peer ECIG use and Conscientiousness.
• Costs and Affective/Weight Benefits factors also showed validity with sensation-seeking, intention to use, and ECIG use status.

Conclusions:

• The EESA scores demonstrated initial reliability and validity in this adolescent sample.
• The identified factor structure for adolescent ECIG expectancies differs from conventional smoking and adult ECIG measures.
• The EESA is a promising tool for research on adolescent ECIG use motivations.