The Prevalence of Vaping and Vaping Addiction Among a Sample of College Students

ECU Author/Contributor (non-ECU co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)

Kathryn A Swinson (Creator)

Institution

East Carolina University (ECU )

Web Site: http://www.ecu.edu/lib/

Abstract: Nicotine and e-cigarette use has been on the rise over the past decade. Young adults are rapidly getting involved in the trend and the rising incidence of involvement is alarming as there are long-term health impacts which have not been sufficiently researched. Additionally, there is more research done to explore vape addiction among high school students, but less data is available on those entering universities. The primary goals of the study were to measure prevalence of vaping among a sample of college students and to examine differences in vaping behaviors among two demographic groups: first-semester university status and gender. The study involves a secondary analysis of survey data collected by professors in the East Carolina University (ECU) Department of Health Promotion and Education. The online Qualtrics survey, conducted during the Fall 2019 semester, administered to HLTH 1000 students (n = 1377) and completed anonymously, assessed health behaviors among participants. Using SPSS, frequencies were reported for demographic variables (e.g., gender, first-semester university status) and the following vaping-related variables of interest: those who have ever vaped, current vape users, and vape addiction/dependence sumscores. Next, a series of chi-square tests were computed to examine differences in the vaping-related variables of interest by two demographic factors (gender, first-semester university status). The majority of the sample was female (65.6%), white (77.5%), and in their first semester of college (88.1%). Prevalence rates for the vaping behaviors of interest are as follows: Ever vaped (57.7%), currently vape (34.3%), and had a vape addiction/dependence sumscore greater than 2 (3.2%). Chi-square results indicated that there were no statistically significant differences in the vaping related behaviors based on gender or first-semester university status. However, males were more likely to currently vape (X2 = 2.957, p = 0.085) and indicate higher vaping addiction sumscores (X2 = 2.101, p = 0.147). Since differences in demographic factors were not found, the results of the study may encourage universities to include more information on the health impacts of regularly vaping to all students in required health courses. This would result in students being able to make more educated health decisions regarding vaping and the information would reach students in all majors and departments.

Additional Information

Publication

Thesis

Language: English

Date: 2023

Subjects

Vaping Addiction;College Students

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