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BMC Public Health
Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2024

Open Access 01-12-2024 | Research

Association between health-related social media use and E-cigarette use among current cigarette users: the roles of anti-tobacco messages and harm perception

Authors: Luxi Zhang, Sha Sarah Qiu, Song Harris Ao, Xinshu Zhao

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2024

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Abstract

Background

The popularity of e-cigarettes is on the rise among current cigarette users. Therefore, there are concerns about their health implications. This study examined the impact of health-related social media use on e-cigarette use among current cigarette users. It assesses the mediating influence of online anti-tobacco messages and the moderating role of the harm perception of e-cigarettes.

Methods

This study was focused on 563 current cigarette users from the 2022 Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS). Three tasks were performed: (1) assessing the direct and indirect impacts of health-related social media use on e-cigarette use among current cigarette users, (2) exploring the mediating role of exposure to online anti-tobacco messages, and (3) examining the moderating influence of e-cigarette harm perception on the path from anti-tobacco messages to e-cigarette use.

Results

Health-related social media use was positively associated with current cigarette users’ e-cigarette use directly (bp = 0.183, p < .01) and indirectly through exposure to online anti-tobacco messages (bp = 0.023, 95% CI: [0.001, 0.051]). Harm perception of e-cigarettes moderated the relationship between online exposure to anti-tobacco messages and e-cigarette use (bp=-0.467, p < .01). The relationship appeared weaker for individuals who perceived greater harm from e-cigarettes.

Conclusions

Health-related social media use positively correlates with e-cigarette use among current cigarette users through exposure to online anti-tobacco messages. The perceived harm of e-cigarettes moderates this indirect path. These findings have implications for public health interventions aimed at smoking cessation.
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Metadata
Title
Association between health-related social media use and E-cigarette use among current cigarette users: the roles of anti-tobacco messages and harm perception
Authors
Luxi Zhang
Sha Sarah Qiu
Song Harris Ao
Xinshu Zhao
Publication date
01-12-2024
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2024
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-18756-8

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