Adverse childhood experiences and electronic cigarette use among young Australian women

Researchers have identified positive relationships between childhood adversities and smoking, problem drinking and illicit drug abuse. Nonetheless, to our knowledge, in no studies has there been an examination of the association between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and e-cigarette use. This study aimed to investigate the association between ACEs and e-cigarette use. Data from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health were used. Study respondents (N = 8915) from the 1989-95 cohort (third wave) aged 19-26 years completed an online survey in 2015. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to examine the association between ACEs and e-cigarette use, adjusted for socio-demographic variables and smoking status. Participants who reported past year e-cigarette use were more likely to report childhood psychological abuse (Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.45, 99%CI: 1.11, 1.90), physical abuse (AOR = 1.30, 99%CI, 1.03, 1.82), or sexual abuse (AOR = 1.41, 99%CI, 1.02, 1.95), All abuse types associated with past year e-cigarette use were also associated with ever e-cigarette use. Ever e-cigarette use was also associated with household substance abuse (AOR = 1.35, 99%CI, 1.08, 1.68), witnessing domestic violence (AOR = 1.28, 99%CI, 1.01, 1.69), or having a mentally ill household member (AOR = 1.28, 99%CI, 1.05, 1.58) compared with those who were not. A positive dose-response relationship was observed between the number of ACEs and the odds of e-cigarette use. This study identified an association between ACEs and e-cigarette use. Improvements in supportive parenting skills and the provision of counselling services for those exposed to ACEs may help avert health-harming behaviours, including e-cigarette use.