Boredom, Relaxation and Experimentation Are Among Top Reasons Teens Vape

The following is excerpted from an online article posted by MedicalXpress.

Nicotine vapes are sometimes marketed as aids for cigarette smoking cessation. However, teens do not typically turn to electronic nicotine vapes to curb smoking habits, according to University of Michigan research.

The study, “Reasons for Vaping Among U.S. Adolescents,” published in Pediatrics, examined data from in-school surveys of U.S. students in eighth, 10th and 12th grades, revealing a mix of curiosity, boredom and stress relief as key drivers.

“Vaping has become the primary way that adolescents use nicotine,” said author Megan Patrick of U-M’s Institute for Social Research. “Understanding why adolescents vape is important for figuring out how to reduce and prevent nicotine use among teenagers.”

Of the 5,082 respondents, data showed relaxation was the most common reason cited, no matter the grade or frequency of vaping. Boredom landed in the top three reasons across frequency groups as well.

Near-daily vaping in the past 30 days was reported by 1.7% of eighth graders, 4.2% of 10th graders and 7.8% of 12th graders. “Relaxation” emerged as the top reason for vaping, cited by nearly half of adolescents who vaped in the past year and over 70% of near-daily vapers.

“Our findings illustrate a shift over the past decade in the reasons adolescents vape, moving from experimentation to stress relief and relaxation, highlighting key areas for intervention,” Patrick said.

Other frequently mentioned reasons include “experimentation” and “boredom,” with “taste” also ranking high. Among near-daily vapers, significant numbers noted they vaped to “feel good” or because it is “more convenient than cigarettes,” with a smaller percentage aiming to “help quit cigarettes.”

“Among the adolescents who vape near-daily, 43% report that they vape because they are hooked or have to have it,” Patrick said. “The fact that so many adolescents feel addicted to nicotine is concerning. Another reason, reported by almost 1 in 5 near-daily vapers, was to manage their weight. Additional research is needed on this, but parents and health care professionals should be aware that many adolescents are vaping to try to lose weight or control their weight.”

Source: MedicalXpress
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-11-boredom-experimentation-teens-vape.html