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Weight Concerns and Use of Cigarettes and E-Cigarettes among Young Adults

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  • Brooke L. Bennett

    (Department of Psychology, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2500 Campus Rd, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA)

  • Pallav Pokhrel

    (Cancer Prevention in Pacific Program, University of Hawaii Cancer Center, 701 Ilalo St, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA)

Abstract

Higher weight concerns have been associated with higher cigarette smoking, particularly among women, partly because smoking is perceived to limit appetite for food. E-cigarettes are increasingly used as an alternative to combustible cigarettes and are widely believed to be less harmful than cigarettes. Currently it is not known whether weight concerns are associated with e-cigarette use among young adults. In this study, we tested the association between weight concerns and cigarette and e-cigarette use and use susceptibility among young adults. Cross-sectional data were collected from college students (N = 470; M age = 20.9; SD = 2.1; 65% women). Results indicated that weight concerns were significantly associated with lifetime and current cigarette smoking status, current cigarette smoking frequency and cigarette use susceptibility (among never smokers), adjusting for demographics variables. Weight concerns were not associated with lifetime or current e-cigarette use status or e-cigarette use susceptibility, adjusting for demographics and cigarette use status. However, higher weight concerns were associated with higher frequency of current e-cigarette use, adjusting for demographic variables and current cigarette smoking frequency. These findings imply that even though weight concerns may not motivate e-cigarette use as strongly as cigarette use, weight concerns may influence higher intensity of e-cigarette use among users.

Suggested Citation

  • Brooke L. Bennett & Pallav Pokhrel, 2018. "Weight Concerns and Use of Cigarettes and E-Cigarettes among Young Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-10, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:6:p:1084-:d:149265
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Cawley, John & Markowitz, Sara & Tauras, John, 2004. "Lighting up and slimming down: the effects of body weight and cigarette prices on adolescent smoking initiation," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 23(2), pages 293-311, March.
    2. Messer, K. & Trinidad, D.R. & Al-Delaimy, W.K. & Pierce, J.P., 2008. "Smoking cessation rates in the United States: A comparison of young adult and older smokers," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 98(2), pages 317-322.
    3. French, S.A. & Perry, C.L. & Leon, G.R. & Fulkerson, J.A., 1994. "Weight concerns, dieting behavior, and smoking initiation among adolescents: A prospective study," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 84(11), pages 1818-1820.
    4. Austin, S.B. & Gortmaker, S.L., 2001. "Dieting and smoking initiation in early adolescent girls and boys: A prospective study," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 91(3), pages 446-450.
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    1. Dominika Cichońska & Aida Kusiak & Barbara Kochańska & Jolanta Ochocińska & Dariusz Świetlik, 2019. "Influence of Electronic Cigarettes on Selected Antibacterial Properties of Saliva," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-7, November.

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