Campaign-Targeted Attitudes Towards Vaping-Related Anxiety, Depression, and Stress and Associations With Stages of Quitting E-cigarettes

Authors

• Elizabeth K. Do, Schroeder Institute, Truth Initiative, Washington, D.C.; Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, D.C.. Electronic address: [email protected].
• Kennedy Sarvis, Schroeder Institute, Truth Initiative, Washington, D.C.
• Tatum L. McKay, Schroeder Institute, Truth Initiative, Washington, D.C.
• Joslynn A. Watkins, Schroeder Institute, Truth Initiative, Washington, D.C.
• Jessica M. Rath, Schroeder Institute, Truth Initiative, Washington, D.C.; Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland; School of Global Public Health, New York University, New York, New York.
• Elizabeth C. Hair, Schroeder Institute, Truth Initiative, Washington, D.C.; Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland; School of Global Public Health, New York University, New York, New York.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

3-1-2026

Journal

The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine

Volume

78

Issue

3

DOI

10.1016/j.jadohealth.2025.11.003

Keywords

Anxiety; Depression; Quit intentions; Stage of quitting; Stress; Youth and young adults; e-cigarettes

Abstract

PURPOSE: Given that many youth and young adults who use e-cigarettes report intentions to quit, there is a need to explore mechanisms that influence behavioral changes toward e-cigarette cessation. METHODS: Data were obtained from youth and young adults (aged 15-24 years at enrollment) participating in the Truth Longitudinal Cohort, who indicated past 30-day use of e-cigarettes and were surveyed between August and December 2023 (N = 734). Participants were asked how much they agree with campaign-targeted messages highlighting nicotine's potential to amplify feelings of anxiety, depression, and stress, as well as whether and when they intended to quit e-cigarettes (precontemplation = no plans to quit; contemplation = plan to quit in the next 6 months; preparation = plan to quit in the next 30 days; action = already quit). Multinomial logistic regression models were used to predict participants' stage of quitting based on their agreement with campaign-targeted attitudes toward vaping-related effects on anxiety, depression, and stress. RESULTS: The largest proportion of participants were in the precontemplation stage (46.9%), followed by the contemplation stage (25.5%), action stage (17.3%), and preparation stage (10.2%). Estimated odds ratios for associations between agreement with attitudes toward vaping-related anxiety, depression, and stress increased in effect size, further along the quit stage (e.g., contemplation, preparation, and action vs. precontemplation stages). DISCUSSION: Results indicate that campaign messages focused on associations between vaping nicotine and anxiety, depression, and stress may be relevant to and resonate with users of e-cigarettes, in a way that addresses their need for a reason to quit.

APA Citation

Do, Elizabeth K.; Sarvis, Kennedy; McKay, Tatum L.; Watkins, Joslynn A.; Rath, Jessica M.; and Hair, Elizabeth C., "Campaign-Targeted Attitudes Towards Vaping-Related Anxiety, Depression, and Stress and Associations With Stages of Quitting E-cigarettes" (2026). GW Authored Works. Paper 8992.
https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/gwhpubs/8992

Department

Epidemiology