Harm perceptions and tobacco use initiation among youth in Wave 1 and 2 of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study
Menée aux Etats-Unis à partir de 2 vagues d'enquête auprès de 10 081 jeunes de 12 à 17 ans, cette étude analyse l'évolution des perceptions vis-à vis du tabac et la relation entre la perception des dangers et du caractère addictif des produits du tabac et l'utilisation de ces produits
In the US, youth attribute higher levels of harm and addictiveness to cigarettes relative to other tobacco products. Monitoring harm perceptions across a range of tobacco products is important when forecasting risk for experimentation. This study examined data from US youth (N = 10,081) ages 12–17 from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study who completed both Wave 1 (2013–2014) and Wave 2 (2014–2015) interviews. Analyses assessed: (1) trends in perceived harm and addictiveness of products over time, (2) whether perceived harm and addictiveness of a product at Wave 1 predicted trying that product for the first time by Wave 2, and (3) whether trying a product between Waves 1 and 2 predicted a decrease in one's perceived harm and addictiveness of that product. Levels of perceived harmfulness and addictiveness significantly increased between Wave 1 and Wave 2 for all products (χ2 (range): 7.8–109.2; p's ≤ 0.02). Compared to those with “high” perceived harmfulness of a tobacco product at Wave 1, those with “low” and “medium” perceived harmfulness had a significantly increased probability of use of that product at Wave 2. For all products, Wave 1 youth never tobacco users who tried a product (vs. did not) at Wave 2 had a significantly higher probability of being in the “low” category of perceived harmfulness at Wave 2. Among US youth, there is a bidirectional relationship between harm perceptions and product use. Understanding how changes in perceptions translate to changes in tobacco use could inform efforts to prevent tobacco initiation in youth.