Adverse childhood experiences and electronic cigarette use among young Australian women

This study aimed to investigate the association between ACEs and e-cigarette use.Data from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health were used. Study respondents (N = 8915) from the 1989–95 cohort (third wave) aged 19–26 years completed an online survey in 2015. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to examine the association between ACEs and e-cigarette use, adjusted for socio-demographic variables and smoking status.Participants who reported past year e-cigarette use were more likely to report childhood psychological abuse (Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.45, 99%CI: 1.11, 1.90), physical abuse (AOR = 1.30, 99%CI, 1.03, 1.82), or sexual abuse (AOR = 1.41, 99%CI, 1.02, 1.95), All abuse types associated with past year e-cigarette use were also associated with ever e-cigarette use. Ever e-cigarette use was also associated with household substance abuse (AOR = 1.35, 99%CI, 1.08, 1.68), witnessing domestic violence (AOR = 1.28, 99%CI, 1.01, 1.69), or having a mentally ill household member (AOR = 1.28, 99%CI, 1.05, 1.58) compared with those who were not. A positive dose-response relationship was observed between the number of ACEs and the odds of e-cigarette use.This study identified an association between ACEs and e-cigarette use. Improvements in supportive parenting skills and the provision of counselling services for those exposed to ACEs may help avert health-harming behaviours, including e-cigarette use.
Source: Preventive Medicine - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research