Table 2.
Factors influencing youth who do not vape (n = 14).
| UTB construct | # | Exemplary quote |
|---|---|---|
| Behavioral beliefs | ||
| Vaping is harmful to your health, especially your lungs | 14 | “The people I know who like use a vape a lot- like even just walking up the stairs they’re like hacking, they can barely breathe just walking up the stairs and doing simple tasks.” Participant 3 |
| Youth vape because they are curious | 14 | “There’s a lot of people doing it and [a lot of] curiosity around it for those who’ve never tried it before. And it’s marketed as something really fun and enjoyable apparently.” Participant 12 |
| Vaping conflicts with personal values (e.g., health, role model) | 12 | “I would feel really disappointed in myself. And I know that a lot of other people in my life would be really disappointed in me. And I don’t want to take that chance.” Participant 8 |
| Youth vape to fit in and be cool | 11 | “For a lot of [vapers] I feel like it’s just kind of a coolness factor, they see other people doing it and they just want to fit in” Participant 5 |
| Vaping interferes with sports (stronger for males) | 9 | “One of my friends that is very active and does play sports, when they vape right before a game, they’ll experience like headaches and they’re out of breath a lot faster than they would be.” Participant 5 |
| Youth vape to cope with stress and hardship | 6 | “I think knowing what my triggers are like….stress…” Participant 25 |
| Vaping is expensive | 6 | “I heard some kids at my school who vape say that it’s kind of expensive.” Participant 12 |
| Vaping is harmful to the environment (females) | 2 | “[Vaping] might not have the best impact on the world in terms of manufacturing them and stuff.” Participant 18 |
| Normative beliefs | ||
| Family disapproves | 15 | “My brother does not promote it at all and regrets it. My parents, family, [and] myself disapprove of vaping.” Participant 2 |
| Close friends disapprove | 8 | “My friend group right now would not approve of it.” Participant 12 |
| Teachers/coaches disapprove | 8 | “Even from the teachers and principals, I’ve heard quite a lot of the school faculty and staff make comments about the kids who vape.” Participant 5 |
| Self concept | ||
| Non-vapers are responsible, smart, and goal-oriented | 7 | “I would say definitely more ambitious like my friends that don’t vape are definitely more focused on school or sports just like have their priorities more in order I would say.” Participant 4 |
| Vapers are social, outgoing, and friendly | 6 | “They’re all very friendly, upbeat, and happy. And they just- they just smoke cause it gives them a happy, somewhat euphoric feeling, makes them feel good. Um, but they’re not sketchy at all.” Participant 5 |
| Vapers are rebellious | 5 | “When I did hang out with my friends that vaped, they were the bad type of friends; it’s mostly the rebels who vape.” Participant 19 |
| Vapers are not athletic | 5 | “I don’t know anyone who plays serious sports that vapes.” Participant 8 |
| There is “no type” of vaper or non-vaper | 5 | “[Vapers] are not really any different any other person besides that they have a nicotine addiction.” Participant 21 |
| Emotions | ||
| Frustration and anger with tobacco marketing | 4 | “I just wish that the advertisements for vapes weren’t targeted towards children. They say they’re not but they very clearly are. The bright colours, the smells and all of that.” Participant 5 |
| Sadness seeing friends put their health at risk | 5 | “If it is used for its actual purpose to stop smoking, that’s good; otherwise, why would you do it. Why do they not have a regard for their life?” Participant 18 |
| Self-efficacy | ||
| Having self-confidence | 14 | “I’m a bit more confident on the way that I stand and I stand my ground when people try and get you to try stupid things like [vaping].” Participant 8 |
| Employing strategies to not vape (e.g., listening to music, walking away, avoiding known high vape areas) | 8 | “If I’m in any stressful situation, I tend to listen to music, zone out and figure things out. With a vaping head rush, its only momentary, not a permanent fix.” Participant 16 |
| Reminding self of consequences | 6 | “When I first started playing basketball when I started vaping and could barely last on the court and cough my lungs out. I barely had the stamina to keep up. That’s a big reason [to not vape] – so I can stay in shape.” Participant 21 |
| Thinking about the future | 4 | “I’m graduating this year. I have a budget for money so it just doesn’t make sense to put vaping money aside when I’m trying to save up and if I want to go to college or anything, it just doesn’t make sense money-wise.” Participant 1 |
| Saying “no” | 4 | “I say no. If they keep pushing, I just leave. I usually just sternly say no. Sometimes I get an “aww come on man”. But it’s an easy no for me.” Participant 2 |
| Split-second decision | ||
| Parties and social gatherings | 8 | “If I were go to like a small get-together and seeing everyone else around me vaping and I’m not, there’s kind of this awkward pressure that I should be doing it.” Participant 5 |
| Knowledge | ||
| Knowing about the health consequences | 11 | “I’m also like a soccer player looking to play varsity and that could like impact that negatively for me as well so it’s more just about making the smart choice for me. I just remember what’s best for that and my health too.” Participant 4 |
| Environment | ||
| Vaping is everywhere | 10 | “To not vape is definitely going against like everything [and] everybody.” Participant 1 |
| School is conducive to vaping (commute, bathrooms, lunchtime) | 12 | “I have seen my friend take a hit inside class even without the teacher seeing. The bathrooms are a spot where everyone vapes.” Participant 21 |
| Vaping is easy to access online | 6 | “You can go online and order one and you don’t need to show any ID or anything.” Participant 3 |
| Vaping is easy to access through older peers | 5 | “If you have friends who are old enough to go and buy it for you, that makes it easy.” Participant 8 |
| School policies help prevent vaping | 4 | “If you were caught vaping in the school you would be suspended for a little bit and the vape would be taken away from you and you could not claim it, you would have to get a parental guardian to claim it. So that could also be a big factor.” Participant 5 |
| Cost is a barrier | 3 | “[Vapers] go into debt or whatever trying to pay for that habit and I’m just like it just doesn’t seem worth it at all.” Participant 1 |
| Age restrictions are a barrier | 3 | “Um, definitely it’s hard to get a vape, like to get one if you’re underage you have to like have friends of a friend buy it for you.” Participant 7 |
| Behavioral cue | ||
| Feeling stressed or bored | 3 |
“If I was stressing about an exam, I would go into the bathroom, take a few hits, come back and then I would feel a lot more relaxed.” Participant 5 “I feel like smoking is something people do that just to fill time, you know, just to fill time” Participant 24 |
| Tempting flavors | 2 | “All the flavours and packaging and stuff that’s all like really colourful and it really appeals to the younger people, they’re like cotton candy or birthday cake flavoured.” Participant 8 |