Exploring Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Youths' E-Cigarette Resistance Strategies: Implications for Tobacco Product Use Prevention

Abstract

This study examined the e-cigarette and vaping resistance strategies used by Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) youths in rural Hawai'i. Focus groups (N = 17) were conducted in eight geographically dispersed elementary, middle/intermediate, and multilevel schools in low-income communities on Hawai'i Island. Sixty-nine youths (67% NHPI, Mage = 12.5 years) participated in this study. The resistance strategies discussed across the greatest number of groups were "refuse" (saying no), "explain" (providing reasons for vaping refusal), "avoid" (avoiding people or places where e-cigarettes were used), and "leave" (walking away from a situation where e-cigarettes were being used). Participants described the challenges in using these strategies within contexts characterized by widespread peer and family vaping and strong social demands to use e-cigarettes. The findings suggest the need for multi-level interventions based on youths' resistance strategies to meaningfully reduce youth vaping use in rural and/or NHPI communities.