Ego networks associated with e-cigarette use among college fraternity students: a cross-sectional study

To use egocentric network analysis (ENA) to identify how the role of social networks relates to e-cigarette use among college fraternity members.

212 fraternity members participated in this study.

Hierarchical logistic regression analyses assessed the relationship between egocentric network variables and ever use and current use of e-cigarettes. Network variables were created based on two relational networks of important and communicative networks.

Seventy-three percent (155/212) of our sample have used an e-cigarette at least once in their lifetime, and 41% (89/212) of our sample currently use e-cigarettes. Important people networks were significantly associated with ever use and current use while communicative networks were not significantly associated with ever use or current use of e-cigarettes among our sample population.

Perceived positive reactions to e-cigarette use by important relationships may be an important factor associated with ever use and e-cigarette use for fraternity members.