Motivations for Using Electronic Cigarettes in Young Adults: A Systematic Review. Issue 3 (July 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kinouani, Shérazade; Leflot, Chloé; Vanderkam, Paul; Auriacombe, Marc; Langlois, Emmanuel; Tzourio, Christophe
• Is Part Of: Substance abuse. Volume 41:Issue 3(2020)
• Page Start: 315
• Page End: 322
• Publication Date: 2020-07
• Subjects: Electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) -- e-cigarettes -- young adults -- smoking -- motivation -- health risk behaviors -- systematic review; Substance abuse -- Periodicals; Medical education -- Periodicals; Education, Medical -- periodicals; Substance Abuse -- periodicals; 362.29
• DOI: 10.1080/08897077.2019.1671937
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0889-7077

Abstract

Background: The most common reasons why adults use e-cigarettes are to stop or reduce tobacco smoking. However, it is unclear if this reason is evenly distributed between young and older adults. Objectives: describe the motivations for e-cigarette use amongst young adults aged 18–25 and compare the reasons for using e-cigarettes of people who currently or formerly used tobacco products to those who had never smoked tobacco prior e-cigarette use. Methods: PubMed ®, Scopus ®, Cochrane Library ®, SocINDEX ®, PsycARTICLES ®, Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection ® and PsycINFO ® databases were used. English written articles were screened up to March 2018. Depending on study design, quality was assessed using The STROBE or RATS checklists. Results: Six articles were included in the review, all with a moderate quality of evidence. Independently of smoking status, curiosity was the most frequently reported reason for initiating the use of e-cigarettes in young adults. Reasons for continuing to use e-cigarettes were various. The continued use of e-cigarettes could be either a means to replicate smoking habits, or a way for a different and personalized use of nicotine by inhalation. Conclusions: Reasons for using e-cigarettes in young adults are varied and are not limited to stopping smoking.