Gauging Risk and Protective Factors Contributing to e-Cigarette Use Among Multiracial Youth

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Background: Currently, e-cigarettes are the most common form of nicotine consumption among youth in the United States. There is a lack of research focusing on e-cigarette use among multiracial youth, yet the sparse literature points toward the adverse consequences of e-cigarettes on multiracial youth. Multiracial youth tend to have higher addiction and prevalence rates of e-cigarette use compared to other racial/ethnic groups. The current research focuses on analyzing e-cigarette use based on parental factors, school factors, prosocial behavior, ease of access, risk behaviors, perception of harm, and sociodemographic differences among multiracial youth. Methods: A secondary data analysis of the 2020 Student Drug Use Survey (N = 38 048) was performed. Of these, n = 3340 self-identified as multiracial. Descriptive analysis, univariate logistic regression, and logistic regression were performed. Results: Results indicate that the odds of using e-cigarettes among multiracial youth increase 2 times when not perceived as harmful, 2 times if one is employed, 18 times if involved in high-risk behaviors, and 2 times if in 9th through 12th grade. Additionally, logistic regression demonstrates that parental factors may not be significant in e-cigarette use among multiracial youth. Conclusion: It is crucial to investigate the association between e-cigarette use and multiracial youth, as they may be disproportionately affected by chronic conditions and fatal diseases linked to tobacco use. Understanding the specific risk and protective factors influencing e-cigarette use within this demographic can help design targeted interventions, particularly for multiracial youth in the Greater Cincinnati region.