Sex-specific motivations, risk perceptions, and E-cigarette experimentation among adolescents and young adults: implications of public health intervention
- 1Clínica de Enfermedades Respiratorias. Hospital Regional de Alta Especialidad de la Península de Yucatán IMSS-Bienestar, Yucatán
- 2Laboratorio de Neumogenómica, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias Ismael Cosío Villegas, Tlalpan
- 3Pulmonary Health Center, Chihuahua
Abstract
Introduction: Electronic cigarette (EC) use is growing exponentially among adolescents and young adults, alongside mental health challenges. In Mexico, despite a strict sales ban in effect in 2024, consumption remains a critical issue. This study evaluated EC and other substance use patterns among Mexican students, identifying factors associated with use based on sex.
Methods: This cross-sectional study surveyed 10,074 students from public and private institutions across four regions of Mexico. Data on knowledge, usage patterns, and perceptions regarding EC were collected via a 29-item digital questionnaire, with results stratified by sex.
Results: Awareness of EC was nearly universal (98.1%), and 33.4% of participants reported having experimented with them at some point in their lives, with no significant difference between sexes (p=0.868). However, females significantly increased their consumption during self-reported periods of sadness (7.9% vs. 6.0% for males; p<0.001) or when experiencing academic stress (10.5% vs. 8.3% for males; p<0.001) and showed strong motivation linked to the appeal of flavors (32.0% vs. 23.8%; p<0.001). Conversely, males exhibited higher rates of dual substance use, with greater consumption of combustible tobacco (21.3% vs. 17.9%; p<0.001) and THC derivatives (9.6% vs. 7.8%; p<0.001). Females perceived greater health risks and higher addictive potential (p<0.001).
Conclusion: Although lifetime experimentation was similar between males and females, differences were identified in self-reported emotional contexts, flavor preferences, risk perceptions, and associated substance use.
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BibTeX
@article{figueroahurtado2026sexspecific,
title = {{Sex-specific motivations, risk perceptions, and E-cigarette experimentation among adolescents and young adults: implications of public health intervention}},
author = {Esperanza Figueroa-Hurtado and Gloria Pérez-Rubio and Manuel Eduardo Espinoza-Hernández and Camila Nereyda Álvarez-Torres and Ramcés Falfán-Valencia and Arturo Cortés-Telles},
journal = {Frontiers in Psychiatry},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1966247},
url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1966247/full},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Sex-specific motivations, risk perceptions, and E-cigarette experimentation among adolescents and young adults: implications of public health intervention
AU - Esperanza Figueroa-Hurtado
AU - Gloria Pérez-Rubio
AU - Manuel Eduardo Espinoza-Hernández
AU - Camila Nereyda Álvarez-Torres
AU - Ramcés Falfán-Valencia
AU - Arturo Cortés-Telles
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/09
JO - Frontiers in Psychiatry
DO - 10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1966247
UR - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1966247/full
AB - Introduction: Electronic cigarette (EC) use is growing exponentially among adolescents and young adults, alongside mental health challenges. In Mexico, despite a strict sales ban in effect in 2024, consumption remains a critical issue. This study evaluated EC and other substance use patterns among Mexican students, identifying factors associated with use based on sex. Methods: This cross-sectional study surveyed 10,074 students from public and private institutions across four regions of Mexico. Data on knowledge, usage patterns, and perceptions regarding EC were collected via a 29-item digital questionnaire, with results stratified by sex. Results: Awareness of EC was nearly universal (98.1%), and 33.4% of participants reported having experimented with them at some point in their lives, with no significant difference between sexes (p=0.868). However, females significantly increased their consumption during self-reported periods of sadness (7.9% vs. 6.0% for males; p<0.001) or when experiencing academic stress (10.5% vs. 8.3% for males; p<0.001) and showed strong motivation linked to the appeal of flavors (32.0% vs. 23.8%; p<0.001). Conversely, males exhibited higher rates of dual substance use, with greater consumption of combustible tobacco (21.3% vs. 17.9%; p<0.001) and THC derivatives (9.6% vs. 7.8%; p<0.001). Females perceived greater health risks and higher addictive potential (p<0.001). Conclusion: Although lifetime experimentation was similar between males and females, differences were identified in self-reported emotional contexts, flavor preferences, risk perceptions, and associated substance use.
SN - 1664-0640
ER -