A one year prospective examination of risk factors for pod-vape use among young adults

Abstract

Background: Young adults have the highest prevalence of pod-vape use, compared to adolescents and older adults. Despite the increased use of pod-vapes among young adults, very few studies have explored the determinants associated with pod-vape use.

Purpose: The purpose of the current study was to examine the roles of social norms and risk perceptions in subsequent pod-vape use one year later among a cohort of 21-34-year-old young adults.

Method: Participants were 3543 young adults from the last two waves (spring 2018 and 2019) of the Marketing and Promotions across Colleges in Texas project (M-PACT). A multivariable logistic regression model was used to examine the role of social norms and risk perceptions on subsequent pod-vape use one year later.

Results: The prevalence of current pod-vape use in the present sample increased by 139.3% between 2018 and 2019. The social norm variables of close friends' pod-vape use and inclination to date someone that uses pod-vapes, but not social acceptability of pod-vapes, predicted subsequent pod-vape use one year later. Neither of the risk perception variables predicted subsequent pod-vape use.

Conclusion: The current study highlights the importance of social norms as predictors of subsequent pod-vape use among older young adults (21-34 years old). The rise in pod-vape use indicates that preventative efforts that target young adults are warranted, especially those that consider the role of peers in pod-vape use.

Keywords: Electronic nicotine delivery systems; Pod-vapes; Risk perceptions; Social norms; Young adults.