University of Wisconsin–Madison ⋅ Medical College of Wisconsin
WMJ

Wisconsin Adolescents’ Attitudes, Beliefs, Motivations, and Behaviors Surrounding E-Cigarette Use and Cessation

Brian S. Williams, MD; Jesse T. Kaye, PhD; Karen L. Conner, MPH; Jennifer Bird, PhD; Rob Adsit, MEd; Megan E. Piper, PhD

WMJ. 2025;124(2): 144-147

Download full-text pdf.

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are the most common tobacco product used by adolescents, yet no evidence-based cessation treatment for adolescents exists.

Methods: Wisconsin residents aged 13 to 17 (N = 227) completed an online survey assessing e-cigarette use, knowledge, motivations around using and quitting, and recommendations for cessation intervention content.

Results: Most of our sample never vaped (76.2%), reporting concerns with health effects and addiction as motivations preventing initiation. Among adolescents who used e-cigarettes, friend use was the main motivation for initiation, and mental health symptoms promoted ongoing use. Motivations for quitting included health harms, cost, and addiction.

Conclusions: This study identified various topics that motivate and demotivate e-cigarette use among adolescents. This information can be incorporated into prevention and treatment strategies tailored to adolescents.

Author Affiliations: Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health (UWSMPH), Madison, Wisconsin (Williams, Kaye, Conner, Bird, Adsit, Piper); Division of Hospital Medicine and Complex Care, Department of Pediatrics, UWSMPH, Madison, Wisconsin (Williams); Division of Hospital Medicine, Department of Medicine, UWSMPH, Madison, Wisconsin (Williams); Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, UWSMPH, Madison, Wisconsin (Kaye, Conner, Adsit, Piper); Carbone Cancer Center, UWSMPH, Madison, Wisconsin (Bird).
Corresponding Author: Brian S. Williams, MD, 600 Highland Ave, H4/418, MC 5108, Madison, WI 53792; phone 608.262.9364; email bswillia@medicine.wisc.edu; ORCID ID 0000-0003-2682-4596
Financial Disclosures: Megan Piper, PhD, reports receiving consulting fees from Temple University, New York University, University of South Carolina, and University of Waterloo and grand rounds speaker payments or honoraria from University of Alabama Birmingham and Roswell Park.
Funding/Support: Funding for this study was provided by Wisconsin Department of Health Services, MSN276077.
Share WMJ