The role of socioeconomic status in the association between advertising exposure and electronic cigarette use among young adults in China: A moderated mediation analysis

Bibliographic Details
Title: The role of socioeconomic status in the association between advertising exposure and electronic cigarette use among young adults in China: A moderated mediation analysis
Authors: Duo Yan, Xiaoyang Lv, Linnea Laestadius, Fernando A. Wilson, Miaoqing Yang, Adam Martin, Yang Wang
Source: Tobacco Induced Diseases, Vol 22, Iss February, Pp 1-12 (2024)
Publisher Information: European Publishing, 2024.
Publication Year: 2024
Collection: LCC:Diseases of the respiratory system
LCC:Neoplasms. Tumors. Oncology. Including cancer and carcinogens
Subject Terms: electronic cigarette, advertisements, socioeconomic status, moderated mediation, Diseases of the respiratory system, RC705-779, Neoplasms. Tumors. Oncology. Including cancer and carcinogens, RC254-282
More Details: Introduction Exposure to advertising is a determinant of electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use among young adults. Few studies have explored the underlying mechanisms of advertising exposure on e-cigarette use among young Chinese adults. Methods An online survey was administered to a sample of 2956 young adults (aged 20–34 years) who were never smokers, from April to May 2022, in China. Mediation analyses were used to test the mediating effects of curiosity and harm perception, and moderated mediation models were conducted to examine whether the relationships in mediation modeling vary across different levels of socioeconomic status (household income, education level, and residence). Results Greater advertising exposure was associated with a higher likelihood of e-cigarette use (AOR=1.39; 95% CI: 1.26–1.54) and curiosity about e-cigarettes (AOR=1.33; 95% CI: 1.25–1.42), and the latter mediated the association between advertising exposure and e-cigarette use (proportion mediated=26.9%; 95% CI: 15.8%–40.7%) while harm perception did not. Additionally, the effect of advertising exposure on curiosity was moderated by household income (p=0.03) and residential area (p=0.001), and was stronger among participants with lower socioeconomic status. Conclusions E-cigarette advertising may promote young adults’ experimentation by increasing their curiosity towards the products. Socially disadvantaged groups may be more susceptible to e-cigarette advertising. The study suggests that the government should explore options for better regulation of e-cigarettes to prevent initiation by never smokers and protect vulnerable populations.
Document Type: article
File Description: electronic resource
Language: English
ISSN: 1617-9625
Relation: https://www.tobaccoinduceddiseases.org/The-role-of-socioeconomic-status-in-the-association-between-nadvertising-exposure,183801,0,2.html; https://doaj.org/toc/1617-9625
DOI: 10.18332/tid/183801
Access URL: https://doaj.org/article/ff282795851f4270b61cfd2d8513675d
Accession Number: edsdoj.ff282795851f4270b61cfd2d8513675d
Database: Directory of Open Access Journals
More Details
ISSN:16179625
DOI:10.18332/tid/183801
Published in:Tobacco Induced Diseases
Language:English