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Reasons for Starting and Stopping Electronic Cigarette Use

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  • Jessica K. Pepper

    (Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Campus Box 7295, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
    Department of Health Behavior, University of North Carolina, Campus Box 7440, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA)

  • Kurt M. Ribisl

    (Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Campus Box 7295, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
    Department of Health Behavior, University of North Carolina, Campus Box 7440, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA)

  • Sherry L. Emery

    (Institute for Health Research and Policy, University of Illinois at Chicago, 528 Westside Research Office Bldg., 1747 West Roosevelt Road, Chicago, IL 60608, USA)

  • Noel T. Brewer

    (Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Campus Box 7295, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
    Department of Health Behavior, University of North Carolina, Campus Box 7440, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA)

Abstract

The aim of our study was to explore reasons for starting and then stopping electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use. Among a national sample of 3878 U.S. adults who reported ever trying e-cigarettes, the most common reasons for trying were curiosity (53%); because a friend or family member used, gave, or offered e-cigarettes (34%); and quitting or reducing smoking (30%). Nearly two-thirds (65%) of people who started using e-cigarettes later stopped using them. Discontinuation was more common among those whose main reason for trying was not goal-oriented (e.g., curiosity) than goal-oriented (e.g., quitting smoking) (81% vs . 45%, p < 0.001). The most common reasons for stopping e-cigarette use were that respondents were just experimenting (49%), using e-cigarettes did not feel like smoking cigarettes (15%), and users did not like the taste (14%). Our results suggest there are two categories of e-cigarette users: those who try for goal-oriented reasons and typically continue using and those who try for non-goal-oriented reasons and then typically stop using. Research should distinguish e-cigarette experimenters from motivated users whose decisions to discontinue relate to the utility or experience of use. Depending on whether e-cigarettes prove to be effective smoking cessation tools or whether they deter cessation, public health programs may need distinct strategies to reach and influence different types of users.

Suggested Citation

  • Jessica K. Pepper & Kurt M. Ribisl & Sherry L. Emery & Noel T. Brewer, 2014. "Reasons for Starting and Stopping Electronic Cigarette Use," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-17, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:11:y:2014:i:10:p:10345-10361:d:40920
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Konstantinos E. Farsalinos & Giorgio Romagna & Dimitris Tsiapras & Stamatis Kyrzopoulos & Alketa Spyrou & Vassilis Voudris, 2013. "Impact of Flavour Variability on Electronic Cigarette Use Experience: An Internet Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-11, December.
    2. Pearson, J.L. & Richardson, A. & Niaura, R.S. & Vallone, D.M. & Abrams, D.B., 2012. "E-cigarette awareness, use, and harm perceptions in US adults," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 102(9), pages 1758-1766.
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    2. Lukasz Balwicki & Danielle Smith & Malgorzata Balwicka-Szczyrba & Michal Gawron & Andrzej Sobczak & Maciej L. Goniewicz, 2018. "Youth Access to Electronic Cigarettes in an Unrestricted Market: A Cross-Sectional Study from Poland," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-7, July.
    3. Arturo Durazo & Marlena Hartman-Filson & Holly Elser & Natalie M. Alizaga & Maya Vijayaraghavan, 2021. "E-Cigarette Use among Current Smokers Experiencing Homelessness," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-11, April.
    4. Monica Webb Hooper & Stephanie K. Kolar, 2016. "Racial/Ethnic Differences in Electronic Cigarette Use and Reasons for Use among Current and Former Smokers: Findings from a Community-Based Sample," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-11, October.
    5. Marissa G. Hall & Jessica K. Pepper & Jennifer C. Morgan & Noel T. Brewer, 2016. "Social Interactions as a Source of Information about E-Cigarettes: A Study of U.S. Adult Smokers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-10, August.
    6. Nan Jiang & Shu Xu & Le Li & Omar El-Shahawy & Nicholas Freudenberg & Jenni A. Shearston & Scott E. Sherman, 2022. "The Mediating Effect of E-Cigarette Harm Perception in the Relationship between E-Cigarette Advertising Exposure and E-Cigarette Use," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-10, May.
    7. Elle Wadsworth & Joanne Neale & Ann McNeill & Sara C. Hitchman, 2016. "How and Why Do Smokers Start Using E-Cigarettes? Qualitative Study of Vapers in London, UK," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-13, June.
    8. Kim A. G. J. Romijnders & Liesbeth Van Osch & Hein De Vries & Reinskje Talhout, 2018. "Perceptions and Reasons Regarding E-Cigarette Use among Users and Non-Users: A Narrative Literature Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-19, June.
    9. Christine E. Kistler & Trisha M. Crutchfield & Erin L. Sutfin & Leah M. Ranney & Micah L. Berman & Gary A. Zarkin & Adam O. Goldstein, 2017. "Consumers’ Preferences for Electronic Nicotine Delivery System Product Features: A Structured Content Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-10, June.
    10. Abigail T. Evans & Katherine C. Henderson & Anna Geier & Scott R. Weaver & Claire Adams Spears & David L. Ashley & Meredith Fritz & Lisa John & Terry F. Pechacek, 2020. "What Motivates Smokers to Switch to ENDS? A Qualitative Study of Perceptions and Use," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-17, November.
    11. Jung Ah Lee & Sungkyu Lee & Hong-Jun Cho, 2017. "The Relation between Frequency of E-Cigarette Use and Frequency and Intensity of Cigarette Smoking among South Korean Adolescents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-9, March.

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