LAUSR

Abstract Introduction Research concerning e-cigarette use has revealed links between personality traits and motives for use. However, no studies have examined how these traits holistically relate to motives. Methods E-cigarette users (N = 468) residing in Nova Scotia, Canada (aged 16–24) completed an online survey containing a demographic and vaping questionnaire, the Substance Use Risk Profile Scale, and a modified Drinking Motives Questionnaire. A k-means cluster analysis and one-way MANOVA were used to segment users and measure differences in motives for use by cluster membership. Crosstabulation analyses were conducted to measure demographic differences. Results A four-cluster solution generated groups that differed based on SURPS: Anxiety sensitivity laden risk, global high-risk, global low-risk, and sensation seeking laden risk vape users. The global low-risk group had the lowest levels of coping, conformity, and social motives, while the global high-risk group had the highest levels of these motives except coping. Females were overrepresented in the anxiety sensitivity laden risk group and underrepresented in the sensation seeking laden risk group. Employed individuals were overrepresented in the global low-risk group. Conclusion Segmenting e-cigarette users based on SURPS can identify groups with stronger vaping motives to better prevent initiation and continued use.