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Does having one or more smoking friends mediate the transition from e-cigarette use to cigarette smoking: a longitudinal study of Canadian youth

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Abstract

Purpose

Studies have shown consistent associations between youth e-cigarette use and subsequent smoking uptake. However, it remains unclear why, as limited evidence exists regarding the mechanisms underlying these associations. Our study investigated whether having one or more smoking friends mediated the association between e-cigarette use and cigarette smoking onset among a longitudinal sample of Canadian youth who were never smokers at baseline.

Methods

A longitudinal sample of youth that participated in three waves of the COMPASS study (2015–2016 to 2017–2018) was identified (N = 5,535). The product of coefficients method was used to assess whether having one or more smoking friends mediated the association between: (1) past 30-day e-cigarette use and cigarette smoking onset and (2) past 30-day e-cigarette use and subsequent dual use of e-cigarettes and cigarettes.

Results

Having one or more smoking friends did not mediate the association between (1) past 30-day e-cigarette use and cigarette smoking onset (β = 0.38, 95% CI − 0.12, 0.89) or (2) past 30-day e-cigarette use and subsequent dual use (β = 0.46, 95% CI − 0.16, 1.07). Post hoc tests indicated that smoking friends significantly predicted past 30-day e-cigarette use and cigarette smoking at wave 3 (aOR 1.68 and 2.29, respectively).

Conclusion

Having smoking friends did not explain the association between e-cigarette use and smoking uptake despite being a common risk factor for both e-cigarette use and cigarette smoking. Prevention efforts should consider how best to incorporate effective programming to address these social influences.

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Availability of data and materials

Data from the COMPASS study is not publicly available. Researchers interested in gaining access to COMPASS data must complete the COMPASS data usage application form (https://uwaterloo.ca/compass-system/information-researchers).

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Funding

The COMPASS study has been supported by a bridge grant from the CIHR Institute of Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes (INMD) through the “Obesity – Interventions to Prevent or Treat” priority funding awards (OOP-110788; awarded to SL), an operating grant from the CIHR Institute of Population and Public Health (IPPH) (MOP-114875; awarded to SL), a CIHR project grant (PJT-148562; awarded to SL), a CIHR bridge Grant (PJT-149092; awarded to KP/SL), a CIHR project Grant (PJT-159693; awarded to KP), and by a research funding arrangement with Health Canada (#1617-HQ-000012; contract awarded to SL). The COMPASS-Quebec project additionally benefits from funding from the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux of the province of Québec, and the Direction régionale de santé publique du CIUSSS de la Capitale-Nationale. Dr. Leatherdale is a Chair in Applied Public Health funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) in partnership with the Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR). Dr. Ferro holds the Canada Research Chair in Youth Mental Health and is supported by an Early Researcher Award from the Ministry of Research, Innovation, and Science. The funding sources noted above had no involvement in the study design, collection, analysis, interpretation of data, and writing of the report.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada

    Sarah Aleyan, Mark A. Ferro & Scott T. Leatherdale

  2. Department of Addictions, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK

    Sarah Aleyan & Sara C. Hitchman

Authors
  1. Sarah Aleyan
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  2. Mark A. Ferro
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  4. Scott T. Leatherdale
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Correspondence to Sarah Aleyan.

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Aleyan, S., Ferro, M.A., Hitchman, S.C. et al. Does having one or more smoking friends mediate the transition from e-cigarette use to cigarette smoking: a longitudinal study of Canadian youth. Cancer Causes Control 32, 67–74 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-020-01358-1

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