Reasons for E-cigarette Use, Vaping Patterns, and Cessation Behaviors Among US Adolescents

This study sought to examine reasons for youth e-cigarette use in association with vaping patterns and cessation behaviors.

A national representative sample of current (past 30-day) e-cigarette users in grades 6-12 was analyzed using the National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS), conducted from January to March 2020. An exploratory oblique factor analysis using a rotated pattern matrix to select salient variable-factor relationships yielded four subscales related to reasons for youth e-cigarette use. Multivariate logistic regressions were performed to assess the associations of each subscale with vaping patterns (frequent e-cigarette use, dual use of e-cigarettes and other tobacco products) and vaping cessation behaviors (intention to quit vaping and past-year quit attempts).

The 2020 NYTS sampled 180 schools with 1769 current e-cigarette users. Four main reasons for vaping were identified through factor analysis, including (1) replacing cigarettes, (2) product characteristics [eg, flavors, concealability, and vape tricks], (3) family/friend use, and (4) curiosity. Curiosity was associated with lower odds of frequent e-cigarette use (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.5, p < .0001) and dual use of e-cigarettes and other tobacco products (AOR = 0.6, p = .01) but higher odds of intention to quit (AOR = 1.2, p = .26) and past year quit attempts (AOR =1.5, p = .01). Vaping due to product characteristics was associated with higher odds of frequent e-cigarette use (AOR = 1.7, p < .0001) and lower odds of intention to quit (AOR = 0.3, p < .0001) and past year quit attempts (AOR = 0.9, p = .01).

Adolescents vape for various reasons that follow distinct patterns and user characteristics. Overall, interventions tailored to address heterogeneous reasons for vaping may help optimize the reduction in youth e-cigarette use.

E-cigarettes have surpassed cigarettes and become the most commonly used tobacco product by US youths. Adolescents choose to vape for different reasons. This study examined reasons for youth e-cigarette use and their associations with vaping patterns and cessation behaviors. The product characteristics factor (eg, flavors, concealability, and vape tricks) was associated with more frequent e-cigarette use and lower odds of cessation behaviors, suggesting a need for flavor bans and product design regulation.