Examining the relationship between mental health and e-cigarette initiation among sexual and gender minority youth and young adults in the United States compared to their cisgender, heterosexual peers, 2021-2023

Abstract

Objective: To understand the relationship between mental health, e-cigarette use and sexual and gender minority (SGM) identity given that minority stress worsens mental health and poor mental health increases the risk of e-cigarette use among SGM people.

Methods: Data were obtained from a United States probability-based longitudinal cohort study of 15-21 year olds, recruited in Fall 2021 and followed through Fall 2023. The analytic sample included participants who had not used e-cigarettes prior to Fall 2021 (N = 1908). Participants who identified as lesbian or gay, bisexual or another identity; or whose sex assigned at birth differed from their gender identity, were considered SGM. Mental health was assessed using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress (DASS-21) scale. Weighted bivariate analyses examined mental health, e-cigarette initiation, and demographics by SGM identity. Weighted logistic regression models stratified by SGM identity examined the relationship between mental health and e-cigarette initiation, controlling for covariates.

Results: Approximately 21.6 % of the sample identified as SGM and 10.8 % initiated e-cigarette use by 2023. Significantly more SGM participants reported severe or extremely severe mental health symptoms (45.5 % vs. 22.4 %, p < 0.001). Poor mental health significantly predicted e-cigarette initiation among SGM participants (aOR: 2.50, 95 % CI: 1.10, 5.69), but not among non-SGM participants (aOR:1.65, 95 % CI: 0.97, 2.82).

Conclusions: Results inform prevention and cessation messaging for SGM youth. Tailored mental health resources could reduce the burden of nicotine addiction on this community.

Keywords: E-cigarette use; Health disparities; Mental health; Sexual and gender minority health.