Impact of Anxiety and Peer Pressure in Using Vapes/E-Cigarettes in Young Adults (18–23)

Abstract

This research investigates the interplay of anxiety and peer pressure as contributing factors for vaping among Indian young adults in the age group of 18 to 23 years. Two hundred and three participants who had experimented with vaping were recruited through a combination of purposive, convenience, and snowball sampling. They completed a self-report structured questionnaire assessing peer pressure (using the Peer Pressure Questionnaire), anxiety (using the GAD-7 scale), and vaping dependence (using the Penn State electronic cigarette dependence index). The participants’ data were analyzed using linear and multiple regression with Jamovi software. It has been found that the two factors (peer pressure and anxiety) both independently, and together, significantly predicted vaping behavior. Increased anxiety and greater vulnerability to peer pressure were associated with greater dependence on and frequency of vaping. Such findings extend our understanding of the psychosocial determinants of youth substance use and demonstrate the urgency of developing culturally appropriate policies that address mental health issues alongside peer relationships. The study contributes to the conversation on vaping by shedding light on an ethnic group that has not been thoroughly studied in this context, enriching the global discourse on the public health concern of youth vaping.