Table 3

E-cigarette use behaviour, reasons for use and perceptions of harm; by age group

18–20 years21–24 yearsTotalP value
Use behaviour
Ever use (n=1425)
 Yes351 (39.8)226 (41.7)577 (40.5)0.467
 No532 (60.2)316 (58.3)848 (59.5)
Current use (n=1448)
 Yes46 (5.1)41 (7.4)87 (6.0)0.077
 No849 (94.9)512 (92.6)1361 (94.0)
Daily use (n=1449)
 Yes11 (1.2)13 (2.3)24 (1.7)0.105
 No884 (98.8)541 (97.7)1425 (98.3)
Daily use for a month or more (n=428)
 Yes21 (8.1)28 (16.5)49 (11.4)0.008
 No237 (91.9)142 (83.5)379 (88.6)
Use of nicotine (n=47)
 Yes14 (73.7)19 (67.9)33 (70.2)0.668
 No5 (26.3)9 (32.1)14 (29.8)
Use in indoor smokefree spaces (n=266)
 No131 (82.9)83 (76.9)214 (80.5)0.221
 Other*27 (17.1)25 (23.1)52 (19.5)
Use in outdoor smokefree spaces (n=262)
 No122 (78.2)71 (67.0)193 (73.7)0.043
 Other*34 (21.8)35 (33.0)69 (26.3)
Reasons for use
To quit smoking (n=417)
 Yes5 (2.0)5 (3.0)10 (2.4)0.484
 No248 (98.0)159 (97.0)407 (97.6)
For enjoyment (n=417)
 Yes25 (9.9)35 (21.3)60 (14.4)0.001
 No228 (90.1)129 (78.7)357 (85.6)
Curiosity/just wanted to try them (n=417)
 Yes189 (74.7)92 (56.1)281 (67.4)<0.001
 No64 (25.3)72 (43.9)136 (32.6)
Perceptions of harm
Less harmful than cigarettes (n=1022)
 Yes520 (79.6)258 (69.9)778 (76.1)<0.001
 Other†133 (20.4)111 (30.1)244 (23.9)
  • The cells contain rounded weighted counts and sometimes the marginal totals are not exactly the sum of the component cells.

  • *Includes sometimes, fairly often and very often.

  • †Includes about same as cigarettes, somewhat more harmful than cigarettes, much more harmful than cigarettes and do not know.