The association between sensation seeking and e-cigarette use in Texas young adults: A cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the associations between sensation seeking and ever and current e-cigarette use in Texas young adults (18-29 years old). Current cigarette use was examined as a potential effect modifier of the associations.

PARTICIPANTS: Participants included college students enrolled in four-year and two-year colleges in four metropolitan areas in Texas (n  =  5,418) who completed the survey between November 2014 and February 2015.

METHODS: This cross-sectional study utilized mixed effects logistic regression to determine the associations between mean sensation seeking scores and ever and current e-cigarette use after controlling for covariates.

RESULTS: After controlling for covariates, significant associations between sensation seeking and both ever and current e-cigarette use were observed; however, these associations were significant for noncurrent smokers only (adjusted odds rations [AOR]  =  1.55, 95% confidence interval (CI)  =  1.39, 1.73; AOR  =  1.82, 95% CI  =  1.54, 2.15, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS: Sensation seeking is an important factor in identifying college students who may be at increased risk for e-cigarette use behaviors.