BACKGROUND Understanding predictors of e-cigarette use among adolescents in the context of wide availability and extreme popularity of these products is important for prevention and treatment. This study identifies correlates… Click to show full abstract
BACKGROUND Understanding predictors of e-cigarette use among adolescents in the context of wide availability and extreme popularity of these products is important for prevention and treatment. This study identifies correlates of e-cigarette use frequency and dependence among adolescent users. METHODS Adolescent e-cigarette users (N = 173) were recruited from the San Francisco Bay Area. Participants reported demographic and psychosocial characteristics, e-cigarette use behaviors, and cigarette use. Bivariate relationships between potential correlates were examined, and correlates significant at p < .10 were included in full models predicting frequency and dependence. RESULTS In the full models, frequent use was associated with receiving one's first e-cigarette from a family member rather than a friend (r = -0.23, p < .001) or a store ( = -0.13, p = .037), using nicotine in all e-cigarettes versus some e-cigarettes (r = -0.17, p = .007) or unknown nicotine use (r = -0.15, p = .014), using a customizable device versus a Juul (r = -0.22, p < .001), vape pen (r = -0.20, p = .002), or other/unknown device (r = -0.16, p = .009), and friends' e-cigarette use (r = 0.20, p = .002). Dependence was associated with younger age of first use (r = -0.18, p = .012), friends' use (r = 0.18, p = .01), and recent cigarette use (r = 0.17, p = .019). CONCLUSIONS When assessing problematic e-cigarette use among adolescents, it is important to consider social factors (e.g., friends' and family members' e-cigarette use), device type, and dual use with cigarettes.
               
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