2019/06/27 by Mateusz Jankowski, Marek Krzystanek, Jan Zejda +4 · 170 citations
Medicine · Psychology · #Smoking Behavior and Cessation #Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet #Consumer Attitudes and Food Labeling #Addiction #Environmental health #Psychology #Medicine #Psychiatry
paper · pdf · doi:10.3390/ijerph16132279
published in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 16(13), 2279 (Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute)
openalex publication_date 2019/06/27 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/30
E-cigarettes are often considered less addictive than traditional cigarettes. This study aimed to assess patterns of e-cigarette use and to compare nicotine dependence among cigarette and e-cigarette users in a group of highly educated young adults. From 3002 healthy adults, a representative group of 30 cigarette smokers, 30 exclusive e-cigarette users, and 30 dual users were recruited. A 25-item questionnaire was used to collect information related to the patterns and attitudes towards the use of cigarettes and e-cigarettes. The Fagerström test for nicotine dependence (FTND) and its adapted version for e-cigarettes were used to analyze nicotine dependence in each of the groups. The nicotine dependence levels measured with FTND were over two times higher among e-cigarette users (mean 3.5) compared to traditional tobacco smokers (mean 1.6; p < 0.001). Similarly, among dual users, nicotine dependence levels were higher when using an e-cigarette (mean 4.7) compared to using traditional cigarettes (mean 3.2; p = 0.03). Habits and behaviors associated with the use of e-cigarettes did not differ significantly (p > 0.05) between exclusive e-cigarette users and dual users. The findings suggest that e-cigarettes may have a higher addictive potential than smoked cigarettes among young adults.