Examining the impact of social media on youth vaping behavior in China: an analysis of the mediating role of perceptions of policy enforcement
Abstract
Introduction: Research has established that exposure to media and the perceived enforcement of policies can influence outcomes related to (un)healthy behaviors. However, little is known about the underlying processes that may mediate the relationship. The Knowledge-Attitude-Practice (KAP) model serves as an important framework for examining health cognition and behavior change. It asserts that knowledge underpins beliefs, attitudes drive motivation, and practices reflect behaviors. In the realm of e-cigarette cessation, this study investigates the influence of media exposure on perceptions of policy enforcement, which in turn affects risk-benefit evaluations and behavioral outcomes. Methods: = 724) conducted in Guangdong China, with participants aged 18 to 30. We primarily employ methods such as mediating effect testing and regression analysis to conduct our data analysis. Results: The findings suggest that social media exposure, perceived policy enforcement, and perceptions of risks and benefits collectively influence youth vaping behaviors through various mediating pathways. Specifically, the results indicate that exposure to social media has a positive effect on the perceived enforcement of tobacco control policy. This perception, in turn, positively affects both risk and benefit perceptions, thereby either decreasing the likelihood of vaping through heightened perceived risks or increasing it through enhanced perceived benefits. Discussion: The study highlights the…
Read the paper
Related studies
- Tobacco and COPD: presenting the World Health Organization (WHO) Tobacco Knowledge Summary
- Comparative effects of e-cigarette smoking on periodontal status, salivary pH, and cotinine levels
- Association between exposure to environmental pollutants and increased oral health risks, a comprehensive review
- Influence of gestational window on offspring vascular health in rodents with in utero exposure to electronic cigarettes
- Natural products as kinase inhibitors in lung cancer: molecular mechanisms, therapeutic potential, and clinical trials
- Nicotine in electronic cigarettes
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.