Date

5-20-2026

Degree

Master of Science in Public Health in Epidemiology (MSPH)

Chair

Linnaya Graf

Keywords

Vaping frequency, e-cigarettes, college students, Social Cognitive Theory, stress-coping, peer influence, health risk perceptions, young adults

Disciplines

Public Health

Abstract

Electronic cigarette use among university students is a growing public health concern, with approximately 20-25% reporting current use. Despite extensive research on vaping initiation, factors associated with vaping frequency among established users remain understudied. This study examined stress-coping mechanisms, peer influence, and health risk perceptions as predictors of vaping frequency, guided by Bandura's Social Cognitive Theory (SCT). A quantitative cross-sectional survey was administered via Microsoft Forms to 399 university students aged 21-25 with recent vaping experience, recruited nationally through campus flyers and online platforms. Multiple linear regression was conducted in SAS OnDemand for Academics, with stress-coping, peer influence, and health risk perceptions as primary predictors, and demographic characteristics, vaping history, and nicotine content knowledge as covariates. The regression model was statistically significant, F(9, 389) = 16.10, p < .001, explaining 27.1% of the variance in vaping frequency (R² = .271). Stress-coping (B = 0.222, β = 0.205, p < .001) and peer influence (B = 0.028, β = 0.245, p < .001) were significant positive predictors. Health risk perceptions were not significant (p = .477), despite 91.4% of participants recognizing vaping as addictive. Vaping history was the strongest overall predictor (β = 0.287), and year of study was a significant negative predictor (p = .043). Peer influence did not moderate the stress-coping-vaping relationship (p = .538). Stress-coping and peer influence are independent determinants of vaping frequency, while health risk awareness alone does not deter behavior. Effective interventions should integrate stress management training, social norm correction, peer-based programming, and cessation support, with early university years as a critical prevention window. Consistent with the biblical call to stewardship of the body (1 Corinthians 6:19-20), these findings underscore a moral imperative to address the psychological and environmental drivers of vaping among young adults.

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