Low Self-Control and Vaping: The Mediating Role of Health and Risk Perceptions. (12th May 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Intravia, Jonathan; Vito, Anthony G.; Rocheleau, Gregory C.
• Is Part Of: Substance use & misuse. Volume 57:Number 6(2022)
• Page Start: 956
• Page End: 966
• Publication Date: 2022-05-12
• Subjects: Vaping -- electronic cigarettes -- perceptions -- low self-control -- mediation; Narcotic habit -- Periodicals; Alcoholism -- Periodicals; Substance abuse -- Periodicals; Behavior, Addictive -- Periodicals; Sustance-Related Disorders -- Periodicals; 362.2905
• DOI: 10.1080/10826084.2022.2052102
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1082-6084

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Research has shown independent attention in the role of self-control and health/risk perceptions toward vaping in predicting vaping use among youth and young adults. Yet, there are good theoretical notions to believe that low self-control, perceptions toward vaping, and self-reported vaping are intertwined. Objectives: To examine whether three different health/risk perceptions toward vaping mediate the effect of low self-control on vaping use among young adults. Methods: A survey was administered to 325 undergraduate students attending a large university in the Midwest (Mean age = 19.5; 60.4% female; 73.1% White). Single and multiple mediation modeling strategies were used to assess the mediation hypothesis. Results: Logistic regression results indicate that individuals with low self-control are more likely to vape (O.R. = 1.041, p < .05). Further, when health/risk perceptions are included in the models individually and simultaneously, it reduces the effect of low self-control on vaping between 15% and 37.5%, and renders low self-control to become non-significant. Conclusions: Findings suggest the impact that harm/risk perceptions toward vaping have in engaging in this behavior. Thus, preventative efforts should target potential sources, such as media and advertisements, that may shape young adults' perceptions toward vaping.