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Erschienen in:
15.05.2023 | Full length manuscript
Time-Varying Determinants of Changes in E-Cigarette Relative Harm Perception Among US Young Adults
Erschienen in: International Journal of Behavioral Medicine | Ausgabe 2/2024
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Background
Current e-cigarette use has increased among young adults in the USA despite a consistent decrease in perceiving e-cigarettes as less harmful than cigarettes over time. This study examined time-varying predictors associated with the changes in e-cigarette relative harm perception over time among US young adults.
Methods
Data were from the 2013–2018 Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study for young adults (18–24 years). A time-varying effect model (TVEM) was applied to examine the association between the relative harm perception change and the associated time-varying predictors.
Results
Of the 8427 young adults, the prevalence of those who perceived e-cigarettes as less harmful than cigarettes decreased from 50.3% in Wave 1 (2013–2014) to 27.7% in Wave 4 (2016–2018). Young adults who were male were more likely to perceive e-cigarettes as less harmful than cigarettes over time (OR = 1.58; 95%CI, 1.53–1.64). In addition, the changes in e-cigarette relative harm perception were less noticeable among those with advanced degrees, who had non-combustible smoke-free home rules, who held negative tobacco-related attitudes, and those who were current e-cigarette users or ever used alcohol (all p values < 0.05).
Conclusions
A decline was observed in US young adults who perceived e-cigarettes as less harmful than cigarettes from the PATH Study across four waves (2013–2018). The study findings underscore the importance of risk communication that focuses on harm perception profiles and the need for appropriate interventions to balance the considerations of e-cigarette use among young adults.