Exploring the Bi-Directional Association between Tobacco and E-Cigarette Use among Youth in Canada

Sarah Aleyan, Mahmood R. Gohari, Adam G. Cole and Scott T. Leatherdale
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Sarah Aleyan: School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
Mahmood R. Gohari: School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
Adam G. Cole: School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
Scott T. Leatherdale: School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 21, 1-9

Abstract: Research has demonstrated associations between e-cigarette use and tobacco use among youth. However, few studies have examined whether reciprocal relationships exist between e-cigarette and tobacco use. The objective of this study was to examine whether bi-directional associations exist between e-cigarette and tobacco use in a large longitudinal sample of Canadian youth. A longitudinal sample of secondary students (n = 6729) attending 87 schools in Ontario and Alberta, Canada, who completed the COMPASS student questionnaire across three waves (from 2014–2015 to 2016–2017) was identified. Using cross-lagged models, we explored bi-directional associations between current tobacco and e-cigarette use, adjusting for relevant covariates. Our findings showed that current e-cigarette use predicted subsequent tobacco use between Wave 1 (W 1 ) and Wave 2 (W 2 ) of the study (W 1–2 : OR = 1.54, 95% CI = 1.37–1.74). Similarly, current tobacco use predicted e-cigarette use during earlier waves of the study (W 1–2 : OR = 1.43, 95% CI = 1.30–1.58). However, these relationships dissipated in later waves, when tobacco use no longer predicted e-cigarette use (W 2–3 : OR = 1.07, 95% CI = 0.99–1.16). This study extends prior work that focused mainly on the association between e-cigarette and subsequent tobacco use. Specifically, our findings portray a more complex relationship, where e-cigarette use may influence and be influenced by tobacco use.

Keywords: bi-directional; e-cigarette; tobacco; electronic cigarettes; youth (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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