Longitudinal Associations of Impulsivity, Sensation-Seeking, and Peer E-Cigarette Use on the Frequency of E-Cigarette Use Across Young Adulthood

We examined the associations of impulsivity, sensation-seeking, and peer electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) use on longitudinal changes in ENDS use frequency across ages 19-29 years old. Data were drawn from a larger multi-wave study of college students in Texas. Participants were 1227 initially 19-25-year-old young adults who currently used ENDS at least once across six waves (baseline: fall 2015, final wave: spring 2019). At baseline, participants were 21.3 years old on average, 43.6% male, 35.5% non-Hispanic White, 32.5% Hispanic/Latino, 16.2% Asian, 6.7% Black, and 9.1% another racial/ethnic identity. Growth curve modeling with an accelerated longitudinal design was used to test direct and interactive associations of age, impulsivity, sensation-seeking, and peer ENDS use on ENDS use frequency across young adulthood, 19-29 years old. Findings indicated that the trajectory of ENDS use frequency increased with increasing age. Impulsivity, but not sensation-seeking, was associated with an increase in ENDS use frequency across increasing age. Impulsivity and sensation-seeking significantly interacted with peer ENDS use: those high in impulsivity or sensation-seeking used ENDS less frequently as they aged when they had fewer peers who use ENDS, and those high in sensation-seeking used ENDS more frequently when they had more peers who use ENDS. Peers play an important role for young adults with impulsivity and/or sensation-seeking-having few peers who use ENDS was protective of escalations in ENDS use, and having more peers who use ENDS increases the risk for escalations in ENDS use for those high in sensation-seeking only.