Adolescents' attitudes towards e-cigarette in Tunisia. (13th April 2021)
- Record Type:
- Journal Article
- Title:
- Adolescents' attitudes towards e-cigarette in Tunisia. (13th April 2021)
- Main Title:
- Adolescents' attitudes towards e-cigarette in Tunisia
- Authors:
- Maalej, R.
Zgueb, Y.
Aissa, A.
Ouali, U.
Nacef, F. - Abstract:
- Abstract : Introduction: E-cigarette use has increased over the last years. Many studies have examined teenagers' attitudes towards smoking, but did not examine adolescents' attitudes towards e-cigarettes. Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine high school students' attitudes regarding e-cigarette safety, addictive properties and social norms and to compare e-cigarettes perceptions among e-cigarette users and non-users in Tunisia. Methods: A survey was conducted with a sample of 234 students in Mohamed Ali high school in Sfax, a town in South of Tunisia, in February 2020. Socio-demographic data and questions about vaping and attitudes towards e-cigarettes were used to evaluate students' perceptions towards e-cigarettes. Results: Among high school students aged 15 to 20, 58, 8% have ever used e-cigarette, 38, 3% had done so within the previous 30 days and 20, 5 % were regular users of vapes. 53.8% of students believed that e-cigarettes are harmful. 78.4% of them thought they were less harmful than regular cigarettes and 50.5% thought they could be addictive, 45.4% of students believed e-cigarette smoking decreased anxiety and a third thought it made them sociable (33.3%) and confident (30.6%).Adolescents who used e-cigarettes had significantly more favorable e-cigarette attitudes than non-users: they believed they were less harmful than tobacco (p=0, 019), they were not addictive (p=0, 005), they decreased anxiety (p=0, 001) and they made the user sociable (p<0,Abstract : Introduction: E-cigarette use has increased over the last years. Many studies have examined teenagers' attitudes towards smoking, but did not examine adolescents' attitudes towards e-cigarettes. Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine high school students' attitudes regarding e-cigarette safety, addictive properties and social norms and to compare e-cigarettes perceptions among e-cigarette users and non-users in Tunisia. Methods: A survey was conducted with a sample of 234 students in Mohamed Ali high school in Sfax, a town in South of Tunisia, in February 2020. Socio-demographic data and questions about vaping and attitudes towards e-cigarettes were used to evaluate students' perceptions towards e-cigarettes. Results: Among high school students aged 15 to 20, 58, 8% have ever used e-cigarette, 38, 3% had done so within the previous 30 days and 20, 5 % were regular users of vapes. 53.8% of students believed that e-cigarettes are harmful. 78.4% of them thought they were less harmful than regular cigarettes and 50.5% thought they could be addictive, 45.4% of students believed e-cigarette smoking decreased anxiety and a third thought it made them sociable (33.3%) and confident (30.6%).Adolescents who used e-cigarettes had significantly more favorable e-cigarette attitudes than non-users: they believed they were less harmful than tobacco (p=0, 019), they were not addictive (p=0, 005), they decreased anxiety (p=0, 001) and they made the user sociable (p<0, 001) and confident (p=0, 01). Conclusions: Our results suggest the need to provide teenagers with the correct information about e-cigarettes risks, and the balance risk-benefit of their use. Disclosure: No significant relationships. … (more)
- Is Part Of:
- European psychiatry. Volume 64:Supplement 1(2021)
- Journal:
- European psychiatry
- Issue:
- Volume 64:Supplement 1(2021)
- Issue Display:
- Volume 64, Issue 1 (2021)
- Year:
- 2021
- Volume:
- 64
- Issue:
- 1
- Issue Sort Value:
- 2021-0064-0001-0000
- Page Start:
- S823
- Page End:
- S823
- Publication Date:
- 2021-04-13
- Subjects:
- adolescent -- perception -- Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems
Psychiatry -- Periodicals
Mental illness -- Periodicals
Electronic journals
616.89 - Journal URLs:
- https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/european-psychiatry ↗
http://www.clinicalkey.com/dura/browse/journalIssue/09249338 ↗
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/09249338 ↗
http://www.elsevier.com/homepage/elecserv.htt ↗ - DOI:
- 10.1192/j.eurpsy.2021.2174 ↗
- Languages:
- English
- ISSNs:
- 0924-9338
- Deposit Type:
- Legaldeposit
- View Content:
- Available online (eLD content is only available in our Reading Rooms) ↗
- Physical Locations:
- British Library DSC - 3829.842700
British Library HMNTS - ELD Digital store - Ingest File:
- 18695.xml