Emotion Dysregulation and E-Cigarette Expectancies among College Student E-Cigarette Users

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Public Health
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• E-cigarette outcome expectancies are key motivators for vaping.
• Emotion regulation difficulties are linked to these expectancies.
• Specific links between emotion regulation deficits and e-cigarette expectancies require investigation for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the unique predictive ability of specific emotion regulation difficulties on e-cigarette outcome expectancies.
• To identify specific emotion regulation deficits that may drive vaping motivations.

Main Methods:

• 116 college student e-cigarette users completed self-report questionnaires.
• Data collected on emotion regulation difficulties and e-cigarette outcome expectancies.

Main Results:

• Difficulty with goal-directed behavior during negative emotions and fewer emotion regulation skills predicted positive reinforcement expectancies.
• General emotion regulation difficulties predicted negative reinforcement expectancies, but no specific difficulties were significant predictors.

Conclusions:

• Greater emotion regulation difficulties correlate with mood-related e-cigarette outcome expectancies.
• Interventions targeting emotion regulation, especially difficulty with goal-directed behavior when distressed, may reduce vaping.
• Understanding these links can inform prevention and cessation strategies.