Trend analyses suggest gender-focused, peer-aware, and parent-targeted interventions could reduce teenage e-cigarette use

Abstract

E-cigarette ever-use and current-use among teenagers has been increasing worldwide, including in Ireland. Boys are widely observed to have increased prevalence compared with girls.We use data from two waves of the European School Survey Project on Alcohol and other Drugs (ESPAD) in Ireland and focus on gender and teenage e-cigarette use. We examine changes in ever and current-use among 16-year-olds (n = 3,421) between 2015 and 2019. We use multivariable logistic regression analyses to explore relative and gendered effects of covariates on teenage e-cigarette use.E-cigarette ever-use increased from 23–39% and current-use from 10–18%, (in 2015 vs 2019, respectively). The rate of increase in ever-use is significantly greater for girls AOR 2.67 (C.I. 2.02, 3.54) vs 2.04 (C.I. 1.55, 2.68) for boys. Smoking and e-cigarette use are linked but never-smokers who try e-cigarettes have risen from 33–67%. Peer smoking is also significantly associated with e-cigarette ever- and current-use, particularly for boys if “Most/All friends smoke” AOR 5.90 (C.I. 3.31, 10.52) vs 3.50 (C.I. 1.79, 6.84) for girls. Less parental monitoring is associated with greater e-cigarette use, for boys AOR 5.50 (C.I. 2.85, 10.61) vs AOR 5.31 (C.I. 3.01, 9.37) for girls.Boys currently have a higher prevalence of e-cigarette use but girls are increasingly at risk. Targeting by industry through advertising, gaming and social media may contribute to use. Peer influences and parental monitoring are significant risk factors for use and provide a mechanism for intervention to prevent an increasing risk of nicotine addiction.