Introduction: There has been rising concern about e-cigarette usage among teenagers and young adults. As knowledge about the adverse health effects of e-cigarettes accumulates, it is critical to identify factors that may increase risk of vaping initiation and frequency of use. One potential risk factor known to increase risk for other substance use is impulsivity. This study tested the hypothesis that impulsivity prospectively predicts vaping over time.Methods: Active e-cigarette users (n=137; 51.8% male; Mean age 20 years at baseline) completed 8 waves of assessment over 21 months (2017)(2018)(2019)(2020). The S-UPPS-P impulse behavior scale was used at baseline to measure impulsivity, and frequency of e-cigarette, cigarette, marijuana and alcohol use was calculated at each wave thereafter.
Results:Vaping frequency declined over time [Incidence Rate Ratio (IRR) = 0.92]. There were significant, stable, positive associations between e-cigarette use and lack of premeditation (IRR=1.06) and sensation seeking (IRR=1.09). Vaping frequency was inversely associated with negative urgency (IRR=0.95). Positive urgency and lack of perseverance were not associated with frequency of vaping.
Conclusion:These findings suggest that young adults who have higher impulsivity of certain types may use e-cigarettes more frequently. Thus, vaping interventions for young adults should address these factors to ensure the greatest impact on public health.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.