Further Exploring the Relationship Between Virtual Socializing and Adolescent Vaping Activity

Abstract

Previous research suggests that virtual socializing is associated with adolescent substance use and vaping activity. However, at present, very little research has explored the functional form of this relationship. This study extends the current research by testing for nonlinearity in the relationship between virtual socializing and adolescent vaping activity using data from the 2018 eighth and tenth grade cohorts of Monitoring the Future (MTF). Our findings indicate that virtual socializing appears to demonstrate a nonlinear relationship with the likelihood and frequency of adolescent vaping activities. Specifically, our findings reveal a nonlinear relationship wherein virtual socializing is initially associated with increased vaping activity, however after reaching a point, additional virtual socializing is no longer associated with increases in vaping activity.