Sociodemographic and psychosocial characteristics of e-cigarette ever-use: U.S. HINTS 6 Survey.

OBJECTIVE

With high U.S. e-cigarette use prevalence and e-cigarette health risks, we examined associated factors for ongoing public health efforts.

METHODS

We used national data from the 2022 Health Information National Trends Survey to estimate the overall U.S. prevalence of e-cigarette ever- and current-use and to examine associations by sociodemographics (i.e., age, race/ethnicity, gender, marital status, employment status, education level) and depressive symptoms (i.e., PHQ-4; no, mild, moderate or severe symptoms) using weighted multivariable logistic regressions adjusted for cigarette smoking status ( = 5924).

RESULTS

In 2022, 17.1 % of U.S. adults ever-used e-cigarettes; of which, 4.3 % currently-used e-cigarettes. Weighted multivariable logistic regressions found that age, race/ethnicity, education level, marital status, and experiencing severe depressive symptoms were associated with e-cigarette ever-use: younger age groups (vs. ≥65-years-old), formerly married (vs. married), and those experiencing severe depressive symptoms (vs. no symptoms) were more likely to ever-use e-cigarettes, while Black adults (vs. White) and those with <high school education (vs. ≥college graduate) were less likely to ever-use e-cigarettes. Younger adult age groups (vs. ≥65-years-old) and those with a high school diploma (vs. ≥college graduate) were more likely to currently use e-cigarettes.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that sub-populations may be at varying risks of engaging in e-cigarette ever-use and current-use behaviors. Experiencing severe depressive symptoms was associated with e-cigarette ever-use, but not current-use. Future research is needed to continue to explore the relationship (e.g., bidirectional) between experiencing depressive symptoms and e-cigarette behaviors and the potential role of marital support in helping to prevent e-cigarette uptake.