Date of Award
Spring 5-2023
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Psychology
Program/Concentration
Health Psychology
Committee Director
James M. Henson
Committee Member
Erin Moore
Committee Member
Michelle Kelley
Abstract
Despite low rates of combustible tobacco use rates among adolescents and young adults, e-cigarettes continue to gain popularity. A few factors have been shown to be related to e-cigarette use based on prior research. One such example is social enhancement expectancies. Additionally, greater perceptions of harm have been found to be inversely related to e-cigarette use such that those that expect increased risk to their health are less likely to report using e-cigarettes. I hypothesized that social enhancement expectancies would mediate the relationship between perceptions of social norms and e-cigarette dependence. I also hypothesized that perceived harm, such as greater perceived health risks, would moderate the indirect effect of perceived social norms and e-cigarette dependence. The same analyses were also examined with a dichotomous e-cigarette user status outcome variable. E-cigarette use status was determined based on past 30- day use of e-cigarettes. Analyses revealed that injunctive norms emerged as a significant predictor of both positive social outcome expectancies and e-cigarette user status. Perceived harm was also found to be a significant predictor of e-cigarette dependence. Further exploration of within group differences among e-cigarette users may be warranted in order to develop an intervention strategy tailored to this group.
Rights
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DOI
10.25777/b9qe-sj14
ISBN
9798379735654
Recommended Citation
Hanson, Stephen N..
"Predicting E-Cigarette Use Among Emerging Adults Using Perceived Social Norms and Outcome Expectancies"
(2023). Master of Science (MS), Thesis, Psychology, Old Dominion University, DOI: 10.25777/b9qe-sj14
https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/psychology_etds/402
ORCID
0000-0001-7729-8798