(PS1-7) Characteristics of E-cigarette Use in Young Adults in Concordant and Discordant Couples

While rates of combustible cigarette use declined to an all-time low of 11.5% (Cornelius, et al., 2023), rates of use of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDs) have risen dramatically, particularly in young adults (11.0%; (Kramarow & Elgaddal, 2023). Having a partner who smokes combustible cigarettes impedes cessation and increases the likelihood of relapse after a quit attempt (Dollar et al., 2009; Manchon Walsh, et al., 2007). Tooley & Borrelli (2017) found significant differences in smoking risk factors between smokers in relationships with nonsmokers (discordant couples) and smokers in relationships with smokers (concordant couples). However, the average age of this sample was early 30s and the participants were all co-habitating.

In the current study, I examine differences between young adults in e-cigarette concordant and discordant couples on sociodemographic variables, e-cigarette and smoking history variables, nicotine dependence, motivation to quit, e-cigarette use motives, relationship satisfaction, and relationship-specific smoking antecedents. Data for this project was collected through CloudResearch, an online participant-sourcing platform. The final dataset included 90 participants aged 18 to 24 (49 in e-cigarette concordant couples and 41 in discordant couples).

The majority of participants reported use of an e-cigarette daily (58.9%) and reported medium to high dependence (62.2%). The majority reported at least one past quit attempt (63.3%) and 72.3% reported thinking about quitting in the next 6 months. Most participants in concordant couples (75.5%) reported that both partners were using an e-cigarette when their relationship began. In terms of current e-cigarette use, the majority of participants in concordant couples report they use the same brand of e-cigarette (89.8%), they sometimes or often share an -e-cigarette (85.7%), and they buy cartridges for each other (81.6%). Participants in concordant couples also reported relatively high confidence (M=7.08, SD=2.53) that they could quit using an e-cigarette if their partner also quit. Using ANOVA to examine differences between groups, we found no significant differences on number of past quit attempts, motivation and confidence to quit, frequency of e-cigarette use, relationship-specific antecedents, or smoking motives. However, we did find that higher positive, negative, and total relationship-focused antecedents were significantly correlated with higher dependence, and higher primary and secondary dependence motives (correlation matrix will be included in poster).

This lack of differences between groups on smoking variables goes against previous research indicating different risk factors in concordant versus discordant smoking couples (Tooley & Borrelli, 2017). However, because the current sample is younger and not co-habitating, it may be that the behavior of each partner has not had yet impacted the other to the extent it does in longer lasting, co-habitating couples. Because participants are reporting high motivation to quit and participants in concordant couples are reporting high confidence to quit if their partner also quits, this age group may be an ideal time to offer e-cigarette cessation interventions.