Young Canadian e-Cigarette Users and the COVID-19 Pandemic: Examining Vaping Behaviors by Pandemic Onset and Gender

The aim of this study was to test how youth and young adult e-cigarette users responded to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2020 Youth and Young Adult Vaping Survey (N = 1,308) included 540 (44.7%) participants that reported differences in their vaping behaviors since the onset of the pandemic. Gender was the only relevant covariate that yielded a significant effect and/or interaction through a multivariate test. A two-way multivariate analysis of variance was used to test the effect of pandemic onset (pre- vs. during-pandemic), gender (males vs. females), and their interaction on vaping behaviors (days of vaping per week, episodes of vaping per day, and puffs per vaping episode). Respondents reported fewer days of vaping per week, episodes of vaping per day, and puffs per vaping episode during-pandemic than pre-pandemic [F-(3,F-533) = 52.81, p < 0.001, eta p2 = 0.229]. The multivariate effect of gender on the three vaping outcomes was not statistically significant [F-(3,F- 533) = 2.14, p = 0.095, eta(2)(p) = 0.012], though the interaction between pandemic onset and gender was [F-(3,F- 533) = 2.86, p = 0.036, eta(2)(p) = 0.016]. Males reported fewer episodes of vaping per day [t((262)) = 7.40, p < 0.001, 95% CI: 5.19-8.97] and puffs per vaping episode [t((263)) = 3.23, p = 0.001, 95% CI:0.292-1.20] during-pandemic than pre-pandemic. Females reported fewer vaping episodes per day during-pandemic than pre-pandemic [t((273)) = 5.14, p < 0.001, 95% CI: 2.76-6.18]. Further, females reported more frequent puffs per vaping episode in comparison to males during-pandemic [t((538)) = -2.38, p = 0.017, 95% CI: -2.09-0.200]. The COVID-19 pandemic presents an opportunity to reduce vaping through health promotion messaging. Since females take more puffs per vaping episode overall, they may benefit the most from greater vaping cessation supports.

Automated summary

The study aimed to investigate how youth and young adult e-cigarette users responded to the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings showed a decrease in vaping behaviors during the pandemic, with gender differences observed. Females, who take more puffs per vaping episode, may benefit the most from increased vaping cessation support.