College vaping rates linked to social discussions within close friend groups

College students are more likely to vape if their friends frequently talk about electronic cigarettes, according to a new study from The University of Texas at Arlington. The effect is particularly strong in tight-knit friend groups, where regular conversations about vaping are linked to more consistent use.

“These findings are important because they point to the significant role of interpersonal communication in shaping college students‘ e-cigarette use,” said Joshua Awua, a postdoctoral research associate in UT Arlington’s School of Social Work and the lead author of the study recently published in Addiction Research & Theory.

Dr. Awua, who joined UTA as part of its RISE 100 hiring initiative—Recruiting Innovative Scholars for Excellence—analyzed data from 670 college students who have used or are currently using e-cigarettes.

Key takeaways from the study include:

• Students who discuss vaping within close friend circles are more likely to use e-cigarettes multiple times a day compared to those with broader, more dispersed social networks.
• Because smaller social networks can amplify the influence of vaping conversations, peer-based prevention education efforts may be the most effective way to reduce e-cigarette use among young adults.

The American Heart Association has called vaping an epidemic in the U.S. The percentage of young adults who vape more than doubled from 11.7% in 2020 to 24.1% in 2023, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Although vapes were introduced as a safer alternative to conventional tobacco to assist individuals in quitting smoking, evidence suggests that vaping is more likely to lead to conventional tobacco use rather than prevent it, Awua said.

“Vaping is associated with negative effects,” Awua said. “We have evidence that there are several negative consequences, such as adversely affecting cardiopulmonary, renal, and oral health.”

What’s next?

Future research will explore vaping-related conversations among young adults in greater depth and how these interactions influence e-cigarette use. The ultimate goal is to develop a virtual reality intervention platform aimed at reducing vaping among this group, said Micki Washburn, UTA associate professor and co-author of the study.

“We aim to immerse young adults in virtual vaping environments that feature vaping cues and real-life social interactions, allowing them to practice craving management, substance refusal skills and relapse prevention,” Dr. Washburn said.