Purpose: This study examines the role of perceived parental knowledge on initiation of nicotine and cannabis vaping among youth.
Design: Longitudinal study from a self-administered online survey. Three waves of data collected in 6-month intervals.
Setting: 79 public and private schools in Texas.
Participants: Adolescents who self-reported never using e-cigarette to vape nicotine (n=1907; weighted sample [N] = 304371) or vape cannabis (n=2212; N=351955) at baseline. Participants were in 8th, 10th, and 12th grade at baseline.
Measures: Self-reported measures of nicotine and cannabis vaping.
Analyses: Weighted multivariate logistic regression models examined role of perceived parental knowledge at baseline (Spring 2016) as a predictor of nicotine and cannabis vaping initiation at 6-month (Fall 2016) and 12 month (Spring 2017) follow-up. Covariates were age, sex, race/ethnicity, and other tobacco use.
Results: Initiation rates were 5.9% for nicotine vaping and 8.6% for cannabis vaping, at 12-month follow-up overall. Higher perceived parental knowledge was associated with lower odds of nicotine vaping initiation at 6 months (adj OR: .69; 95% CI: .50-.93) and 12 months (adj OR: .68; 95% CI: .50-.92). Similarly, higher perceived parental knowledge was associated with lower odds of cannabis vaping initiation at 6 months (adj OR: .58; 95% CI: .38-.87) and 12 months (adj OR: .53; 95% CI: .38-.74).
Conclusion: E-cigarette prevention efforts directed at adolescents should incorporate parent engagement strategies as a method of increasing actual and perceived parental knowledge of their child's location, activities and peer groups.
Keywords: ENDS; adolescence; cannabis; electronic cigarettes; initiation; longitudinal analysis; marijuana; parental knowledge; vaping; youth.