Assessing Adolescent Vaping Norms and Perceptions in a Statewide Multi-Community Project

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Adolescent Health
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Adolescent e-cigarette use (vaping) has surged, posing a significant public health concern.
• Research on traditional cigarette use shows social norms influence behavior, but less is known about vaping.
• Understanding social norms is crucial for addressing the rise in adolescent vaping.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate social norms as predictors of past 30-day e-cigarette use.
• Focus on high school students in 10 Minnesota communities.
• Identify perceptions that correlate with adolescent vaping behavior.

Main Methods:

• Survey administered to 3,285 high school students.
• Assessed perceptions of peer vaping frequency and approval.
• Correlated perceptions with self-reported past 30-day e-cigarette use.

Main Results:

• Students believing most peers vape daily were more likely to vape than those believing peers vape less frequently.
• Perception of widespread peer approval for vaping increased likelihood of use.
• Social norms, specifically perceived peer behavior and approval, are linked to adolescent vaping.

Conclusions:

• Findings support the role of social norms in adolescent e-cigarette use.
• Results inform the development of norms-based prevention strategies.
• Targeting social perceptions can help reduce vaping among high school students.