E-cigarettes were first introduced to the U.S. marketplace back in 2007, and since their release, their prevalence of use has dramatically increased. Literature shows that e-cigarettes pose many health risks to individuals, such as impaired immune system and lung function, increasing risk for cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. E-cigarette use in young adults is correlated with more than an 8-fold increase in risk for initiation of combustible cigarette use. E-cigarettes contain nicotine, which is often used to help one cope with emotional regulation difficulties. The goal of this study is to examine the predictive ability of specific emotion regulation difficulties in terms of e-cigarette outcome expectancies among college student e-cigarette users.
This study consisted of 116 undergraduate students who partook in past 30-day e-cigarette use but denied past 30-day combustible cigarette use. Data collection took place between October 2021 and April 2022. Demographics such as gender identity, race, and ethnicity were collected. E-cigarette use, dependence index, difficulties in emotion regulation, and short-form vaping consequences questionnaire were all measured. E-cigarette dependence was measured by the Penn State Electronic Cigarette Dependence Index, which is a 10-item self-report questionnaire that asks participants to provide information on topics such as the strength of urges to use, waking at night to use, frequency of use, difficulty quitting, and experience of craving and withdrawal symptoms.
This study showed that emotion regulation difficulties may motivate e-cigarette use due to expectations for affect regulation. Those with more significant overall emotional regulation difficulties were found to believe e-cigarettes would help them reduce adverse effects. For these individuals, they may experience more barriers to cessation. These results show that targeting emotion regulation difficulties during prevention and intervention efforts could be very beneficial.
Takeaway: This study showed that emotion regulation difficulties may motivate e-cigarette use due to expectations for affect regulation.