Do Vaping Prevention Messages Impact Adolescents and Young Adults? A Meta-Analysis of Experimental Studies

Health Commun. 2023 Jul;38(8):1709-1722. doi: 10.1080/10410236.2023.2185578. Epub 2023 Mar 7.

Abstract

Vaping prevention messages are widely used to communicate the health harms and addiction risks of vaping and discourage vaping among adolescents and young adults. We conducted a meta-analysis of experimental studies to examine the effects of these messages and to understand their theoretical mechanisms. Systematic, comprehensive searches generated 4,451 references, among which 12 studies (cumulative N = 6,622) met inclusion criteria for the meta-analysis. Across these studies, a total of 35 different vaping-related outcomes were measured, and 14 outcomes assessed in two or more independent samples were meta-analyzed. Results showed that compared to control, exposure to vaping prevention messages led to higher vaping risk perceptions, including harm perceptions (d = 0.30, p < .001), perceived likelihood of harm (d = 0.23, p < .001), perceived relative harm (d = 0.14, p = .036), addiction perceptions (d = 0.39, p < .001), perceived likelihood of addiction (d = 0.22, p < .001), and perceived relative addiction (d = 0.33, p = .015). Also, compared to control, exposure to vaping prevention messages led to more vaping knowledge (d = 0.37, p < .001), lower intentions to vape (d = -0.09, p = .022), and higher perceived message effectiveness (message perceptions; d = 0.57, p < .001; effects perceptions; d = 0.55, p < .001). Findings suggest vaping prevention messages have an impact, yet may operate through different theoretical mechanisms than cigarette pack warnings.

Publication types

  • Meta-Analysis
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Behavior, Addictive*
  • Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems*
  • Humans
  • Intention
  • Probability
  • Vaping* / prevention & control
  • Young Adult