The Beliefs and Usage of Electronic Cigarettes Among Undergraduate GVSU Students

Objective: This survey study examined the beliefs and assumptions about electronic cigarettes and the general usage in college-aged students. Differences in beliefs between e-cigarette users and non-users were also examined. Participants: A total of 97 Grand Valley State University students completed the survey, with 94 participants meeting the inclusion criteria of being an undergrad student and over the age of 18. Of these 94 participants, 64 were non-smokers, 21 used e-cigarettes, and 9 smoked traditional cigarettes. Method: An online, anonymous survey consisting of 26 questions was distributed via an email that included a link to the survey. Results: It was found that e-cigarette usage among the participants was most often used socially (61.9%), and was least often used as a cessation method from traditional cigarettes (19%). In addition, when non-smokers were asked about their beliefs regarding hypothetical situations, there was a 20% increase in the response stating that both traditional and electronic cigarettes would bother them if they were in a setting with a younger sibling compared to if they were alone. Discussion: E-cigarette usage is a growing issue within young adult populations who do not use e-cigarettes as a cessation aid. More studies should be done to determine associations between e-cigarette usage and students’ beliefs surrounding them. Implications and future directions are discussed