Cognitive Drivers of E-cigarette Use Amongst Young Australians

Informing Prevention Strategies in an E-cigarette Epidemic

Bibliographic Data

ID21646658
AuthorsJulia M de Vries (0009-0008-3374-159X, Queensland University of Technology, corresponding author), Adrian B Kelly (0000-0001-5546-4994, Queensland University of Technology)
Year2025
Volume60
Issue14
Pages2280-2286
Publication date2025-12-06
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSubstance Use & Misuse (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1082-6084 • E-ISSN: 1532-2491
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/10826084.2025.2540937
PMID40751517
OpenAlexW4412854591
LanguageEN
References cited29

Objective: E-cigarette use is prevalent amongst young Australians, and recent studies confirm e-cigarette use has detrimental short and long-term effects on health. This study evaluated the extent to which e-cigarette outcome expectancies and refusal self-efficacy predict lifetime e-cigarette use in young Australians. Methods: Participants were 263 young Australians (Mage = 20.4; 82.1% female). Participants completed an online survey assessing e-cigarette use, e-cigarette outcome expectancies, and e-cigarette refusal self-efficacy. Lifetime e-cigarette use was regressed on e-cigarette use outcome expectancies and e-cigarette refusal self-efficacy, with age, gender, and education as controls. Results: E-cigarette use outcome expectancies and e-cigarette refusal self-efficacy significantly predicted lifetime e-cigarette use, while controlling for demographic variables. Stronger e-cigarette dependency expectancies were associated with a lower likelihood of lifetime e-cigarette use. Stronger external refusal self-efficacy was associated with a lower likelihood of lifetime e-cigarette use. Conclusions: E-cigarette use intervention and prevention programs may benefit from strengthening awareness of dependency on e-cigarettes, particularly in the Australian context where the presence of nicotine in e-cigarette liquids is likely to be far more widespread than initially believed

Cigarette smoking · Cognition · Electronic cigarette · Environmental health · Psychiatry · Behavioral Health and Interventions · Medicine · Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet · Psychology · Smoking Behavior and Cessation · Gerontology

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