Electronic Cigarette Use Intentions Mediate the Association between Low Self-Control and Future Use by Internalizing...

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Public Health
• Adolescent Behavior

Background:

• Adolescent electronic (e-)cigarette use is a growing public health concern.
• E-cigarette use intentions are a key predictor of initiation.
• Low self-control is a known risk factor for substance use initiation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the moderating role of internalizing symptoms on the relationship between low self-control, e-cigarette use intentions, and actual e-cigarette use in adolescents.
• To examine how depression and anxiety influence the pathway from low self-control to e-cigarette use via intentions.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal study design with 200 adolescents assessed at two time points.
• Statistical analysis to test mediation and moderation hypotheses.
• Measurement of self-control, internalizing symptoms (depression, anxiety), e-cigarette use intentions, and e-cigarette use.

Main Results:

• A significant indirect effect of low self-control on e-cigarette use through intentions was found.
• This mediation pathway was significant only at high levels of internalizing symptoms.
• Adolescents with low self-control and high internalizing symptoms reported the highest intentions to use e-cigarettes.

Conclusions:

• Internalizing symptoms significantly moderate the link between low self-control and e-cigarette initiation.
• Adolescents exhibiting both low self-control and high levels of depression and anxiety are at heightened risk for initiating e-cigarette use.
• Targeted interventions for high-risk adolescents may need to address both self-control deficits and internalizing symptomatology.