The Role of Knowledge and Risk Beliefs in Adolescent E-Cigarette Use: A Pilot Study

Jacob A. Rohde, Seth M. Noar, Casey Horvitz, Allison J. Lazard, Jennifer Cornacchione Ross and Erin L. Sutfin
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Jacob A. Rohde: School of Media and Journalism, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Carroll Hall, CB 3365, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
Seth M. Noar: School of Media and Journalism, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Carroll Hall, CB 3365, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
Casey Horvitz: Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
Allison J. Lazard: School of Media and Journalism, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Carroll Hall, CB 3365, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
Jennifer Cornacchione Ross: Department of Social Sciences & Health Policy, Division of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA
Erin L. Sutfin: Department of Social Sciences & Health Policy, Division of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA

IJERPH, 2018, vol. 15, issue 4, 1-9

Abstract: The use of e-cigarettes and other vaping devices among adolescents is an urgent public health problem due to the concern about adolescent exposure to nicotine. This study examined: (1) adolescents’ knowledge and beliefs about e-cigarette risks; and (2) whether knowledge and risk beliefs were associated with e-cigarette use. N = 69 adolescents completed a cross-sectional survey about e-cigarette knowledge, attitudes (i.e., risk beliefs), and behavior (KAB). Nearly half (47%) of the sample reported ever using e-cigarettes. The majority of adolescents knew about many of the risks of e-cigarettes, with no differences between never- and ever-users. However, risk beliefs, such as worrying about health risks of using e-cigarettes, varied across groups. Compared to never-users, e-cigarette ever-users were significantly less likely to worry about e-cigarette health risks, less likely to think that e-cigarettes would cause them negative health consequences, and less likely to believe that e-cigarette use would lead to addiction. In a multivariable logistic regression, prior combustible cigarette use, mother’s education, and addiction risk beliefs about e-cigarettes emerged as significant predictors of adolescents’ e-cigarette use. This study reveals that while knowledge is not associated with adolescent e-cigarette use, risk beliefs do predict use.

Keywords: e-cigarette; vaping; knowledge; beliefs (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:4:p:830-:d:142617

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