My (Social Media) Friends “Vape,” So I Do Too!: Peer Influence on Electronic Cigarette Use

• In Event: The Dark Side? Effects of Social Media on Risky Behaviors

Abstract

This study examined the joint effects of electronic cigarette-related social media use, peer subjective norms, and social identification through social media on current electronic cigarette users’ attitudes towards quitting, self-efficacy, and intention to quit. Results (N=1016) indicated that electronic cigarette-related social media use, subjective norms and identification exerted significant main effects on attitudes towards quitting, self-efficacy and intention to quit. Social media use also interacted with subjective norms to influence intention to quit, and with identification to influence self-efficacy. Implications for research and electronic cigarette regulation are discussed.

Author

• Joe Phua, U of Georgia