Citation

Shin SH, Conley D, Ksinan Jiskrova G, Wills TA. Am. J. Addict. 2019; 28(4): 303-310.

Affiliation

University of Hawaii Cancer Center, Honolulu, Hawaii.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/ajad.12890

PMID

31069879

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: E-cigarette use among young people is highly prevalent. Individuals exposed to adverse childhood experiences such as childhood maltreatment (CM) may be at particular risk, as CM has been linked to nicotine dependence. Studies testing the association between CM and e-cigarette use are lacking, including research that examines pathways linking CM to e-cigarette use.

METHODS: Using a community sample of young adults (N = 208; ages 18-21), we examined the relationship between CM and e-cigarette use and explored the potential role of impulsivity in linking CM to e-cigarette use via a series of structural equation models controlling for demographic characteristics.

RESULTS: CM was significantly associated with lifetime e-cigarette use. Furthermore, CM was associated with negative urgency (NU), whereas NU and sensation seeking were significantly related to lifetime e-cigarette use. NU fully mediated the relationship between CM and lifetime e-cigarette use.

CONCLUSIONS AND SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE: Our results suggest that young adults with a history of CM might be vulnerable to e-cigarette use and that NU played a significant role in linking CM to lifetime e-cigarette use. Addressing NU in young adults with a history of CM might be a useful avenue for preventing e-cigarette use in this population.

© 2019 American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry.

Language: en