Uptake of e cigarettes among a nationally representative cohort of UK children
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Laverty, Anthony A
Vamos, Eszter P
Filippidis, Filippos
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Introduction:
Using nationally representative data this study examined experimentation with and regular use of e-cigarettes among children not using tobacco at age 11 years, followed up to age 14 years.
Material and Methods:
Data come from 10 982 children in the UK Millennium Cohort Study. Logistic regression assessed experimentation with and current use of e-cigarettes by age 14 years. We considered associations of sociodemographics at age 11 years with subsequent e-cigarette use, including data on family income, peer and caregiver smoking. Subsequent models were adjusted for current tobacco use to assess both the strength of the assocations between e-cigarette use and tobacco, and whether sociodemographics were associated with e-cigarettes independently of tobacco.
Results:
Among 10 982 children who reported never smoking at age 11 years, 13.9% (1525) had ever tried an e-cigarette by age 14 years, and of these 18.2% (278) reported being current users. Children in lower income households were more likely to have tried an e-cigarette than those in higher income households (Adjusted Odds Ratio, AOR 1.89, p=0.002). Children who reported friend (AOR 2.28, p<0.001) or caregiver smoking (AOR 1.77, p<0.001) at age 11 years were more likely to have tried an e-cigarette by age 14 years. After adjusting for current tobacco use, there was some attenuation of these associations, although associations of friend and caregiver smoking with e-cigarette use remained statistically significant.
Conclusions:
Children from lower income families were more likely to experiment with e-cigarettes by age 14 years, although this was heavily mediated by concurrent tobacco use. Caregiver and friend smoking are linked to trying e-cigarettes, although these relationships are less clear for regular e-cigarette use.
Using nationally representative data this study examined experimentation with and regular use of e-cigarettes among children not using tobacco at age 11 years, followed up to age 14 years.
Material and Methods:
Data come from 10 982 children in the UK Millennium Cohort Study. Logistic regression assessed experimentation with and current use of e-cigarettes by age 14 years. We considered associations of sociodemographics at age 11 years with subsequent e-cigarette use, including data on family income, peer and caregiver smoking. Subsequent models were adjusted for current tobacco use to assess both the strength of the assocations between e-cigarette use and tobacco, and whether sociodemographics were associated with e-cigarettes independently of tobacco.
Results:
Among 10 982 children who reported never smoking at age 11 years, 13.9% (1525) had ever tried an e-cigarette by age 14 years, and of these 18.2% (278) reported being current users. Children in lower income households were more likely to have tried an e-cigarette than those in higher income households (Adjusted Odds Ratio, AOR 1.89, p=0.002). Children who reported friend (AOR 2.28, p<0.001) or caregiver smoking (AOR 1.77, p<0.001) at age 11 years were more likely to have tried an e-cigarette by age 14 years. After adjusting for current tobacco use, there was some attenuation of these associations, although associations of friend and caregiver smoking with e-cigarette use remained statistically significant.
Conclusions:
Children from lower income families were more likely to experiment with e-cigarettes by age 14 years, although this was heavily mediated by concurrent tobacco use. Caregiver and friend smoking are linked to trying e-cigarettes, although these relationships are less clear for regular e-cigarette use.
Date Issued
2018-04-03
Date Acceptance
2018-04-03
Citation
TOBACCO PREVENTION & CESSATION, 2018, 4 (April)
ISSN
2459-3087
Publisher
EU EUROPEAN PUBLISHING
Journal / Book Title
TOBACCO PREVENTION & CESSATION
Volume
4
Issue
April
Copyright Statement
© 2018 Laverty A. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0)
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0)
Identifier
http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000433483100006&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=1ba7043ffcc86c417c072aa74d649202
Subjects
Science & Technology
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Substance Abuse
cigarette smoking
alternative tobacco products
youth smoking
new tobacco products
SMOKING
ASSOCIATION
ONSET
PEER
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2018-04-03