Factors Associated with Electronic Cigarette Use among Young Adults: The French “Trajectoires EpidéMiologiques en POpulation” (TEMPO) Cohort Study

Background: Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are sold in France since 2010 and have rapidly become popular. However, factors associated with e-cigarette use among young adults are not well known. Methods: We used data from the 2015 French TEMPO community based cohort study, restricted to current and former smokers with data on e-cigarette use (n = 368 adults, 23-41 years). Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire including information on family status, educational attainment, occupation and type of work contract, health problems, alcohol and cannabis use, electronic cigarette use, as well as perceptions of e-cigarettes. Use of traditional tobacco was assessed in 2011 and 2015. Data were analyzed using logistic regression models. Results: Among current and former smokers, 26.9% reported lifetime e-cigarettes use and 15.2% current use. Factors associated with lifetime use were: low socioeconomic position (OR = 2.2; 95% CI = 1.2-4.2), traditional cigarette use (OR associated with smoking in 2011 and 2015 = 13.1; 95% CI = 5.2-32.6) and positive perceptions of e-cigarettes (OR = 4.4; 95% CI = 2.4-8.1) as well as asthma (OR = 2.1; 95% CI = 0.9-4.9) and overweight/obesity (OR = 2.5, 95% CI = 0.9-6.9). Factors associated with current use were traditional cigarette smoking (OR associated with smoking in 2011 and 2015 = 3.9; 95% CI= 1.3-12.2) and positive perceptions of e-cigarettes (OR =4.4; 95% CI = 2.3-8.4). Conclusions: Young adults who use e-cigarettes tend to persist in smoking traditional cigarettes. The conditions under which e-cigarette use can help individuals quit traditional tobacco products remain to be elucidated.