Differential Effects of Anxiety Sensitivity on E‐Cigarettes Processes: The Importance of E‐Cigarette Quit Attempt History

摘要

Background and Objectives Electronic cigarettes (e‐cigarettes) are recognized as a prevalent form of substance use among adults in the United States. The rise in e‐cigarette use has motivated research to identify subgroups of the population that may be particularly vulnerable to e‐cigarette use and its associated harm. Individuals with elevated psychological vulnerability are one such group more at risk for being a lifetime or current e‐cigarette user. Yet, little is known about how factors of psychological vulnerability relate to perceptions of e‐cigarette use within the context of e‐cigarette quit attempts. The current study evaluated the differential relations of anxiety sensitivity (AS), a core affective vulnerability factor, on several relevant e‐cigarette processes across those with and without a previous attempt to quit using e‐cigarettes. Methods Our sample consisted of 547 current e‐cigarette users (51% female, M age ?=?35.38 years, SD?= ? 10.1). Results Results indicated that AS significantly related to greater perceived risks, benefits, and positive outcome expectancies of e‐cigarette use among current e‐cigarette users who reported at least one attempt to quit e‐cigarettes but was unrelated among those who had never attempted to quit. Discussion and Conclusions Findings identify e‐cigarette users who fail to quit as a potential vulnerable subgroup of users who experience more strongly held perceptions about e‐cigarettes because of increased AS. Scientific Significance This work provides initial evidence for a conceptual model in which levels of AS and e‐cigarette processes are strengthened by and differ across e‐cigarette quit attempt history. (Am J Addict 2019;28:390–397)