Cigarette, E-Cigarette and Waterpipe Use among Young Adults: Differential Cognitions about These Three Forms of Smoking

Mark J.M. Sullman, Maria-Eugenia Gras, Antonios Kagialis, Ioulia Papageorgi and Sílvia Font-Mayolas
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Mark J.M. Sullman: Department of Social Sciences, University of Nicosia, Nicosia 2417, Cyprus
Maria-Eugenia Gras: Department of Psychology, Universitat de Girona, 17004 Girona, Catalonia, Spain
Antonios Kagialis: Department of Social Sciences, University of Nicosia, Nicosia 2417, Cyprus
Ioulia Papageorgi: Department of Social Sciences, University of Nicosia, Nicosia 2417, Cyprus
Sílvia Font-Mayolas: Department of Psychology, Universitat de Girona, 17004 Girona, Catalonia, Spain

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 11, 1-7

Abstract: Background: Polytobacco use is common among young adults. The purpose of the present study was to investigate a number of cognitions related to the use of three tobacco products (cigarettes, e-cigarettes and waterpipes) among young adults. Methods: Participants ( n = 799, 59.4% women) aged 18–25 years old (M = 21.8, SD = 1.7) completed an online tobacco cognitions questionnaire. Results: For all three tobacco products, there was significantly more agreement with the cognition “I would smoke if my best friend offered” among tobacco users (used one or more tobacco products) than among non-users. For e-cigarettes and waterpipes, there was significantly more agreement with the cognition “It would be easy to quit these products” than was reported by non-users. Polytobacco users (three tobacco products) endorsed the cognitions scale (the six cognition items were combined to form a single cognitions scale for each tobacco product) significantly more than non-users for cigarettes and e-cigarettes. Furthermore, waterpipe users, polytobacco users, dual users and single users all endorsed the combined cognitions scales more strongly than non-users. Conclusions: Efforts to prevent polytobacco use should ensure that young adults have the necessary self-efficacy to resist peer pressure and provide them with clear information about the health risks associated with using alternative tobacco products.

Keywords: tobacco smoking; cigarettes; e-cigarettes; waterpipes; polytobacco; nicotine; young adults; cognitions; public health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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