Vaping Behaviors are Associated with Other Health Behaviors in College Students

Emily G. Saurborn*, Rachel A. Wattick B.S. and Melissa D. Olfert, Davis College of Agricultural, Natural Resources and Design, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506

Field (Broad Category): Human Nutrition and Foods (Health Sciences) 

Student’s Major: Exercise Physiology 

The prevalence of vaping in young adults is increasing and presents problematic health effects with rapid evidence in recent alarming publications. Strong evidence concludes negative health behaviors are associated with tobacco use, there is less known about whether vaping is dependent on other factors such as food insecurity, stress, mental health or Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). The objective of this study is to investigate the possible variables that lead young adults to vape in a college environment. Survey data was collected in Spring of 2019 using Qualtrics from an email request to ~29,000 students. Questions about vaping usage and motives, mental health, stress, and ACEs were evaluated. Data analysis using JMP Pro Version 12.0 to conduct One Way ANOVA and Chi-Squared tests was completed. Respondents (N=3367) indicated most often that they used the smoking device multiple times a day (30.3%) and said that their motivation for using a vaping product was to decrease stress (27.1%). Individuals who vaped had higher stress levels (p = 0.0003), higher rates of anxiety (p = 0.0003) and depression (p < 0.0001), higher rates of food insecurity (p < 0.0001), and a higher ACE score (p < 0.0001). These results show that the prevalence of vaping in college students is associated with other health factors such as food insecurity, behavioral health, or ACE scores. Determining the health behaviors of those who vape is important as it will allow for specific intervention programs to be established. 

Funding: West Virginia University's Hatch Fund 

Program/mechanism supporting research/creative efforts: An External Internship or Other Type of Program
Lifestyle Intervention Research Lab, Olfert Research Lab