A protection motivation theory-based scale for e-cigarette use assessment among Chinese college students: Development and validation.

IF 1.9 4区医学 Q2 PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH

Tobacco Induced Diseases Pub Date : 2025-09-26 eCollection Date: 2025-01-01 DOI:10.18332/tid/209411

Yu Chen, Zining Wang, Jing Xu, Xindou Chen, Yujiang Cai, Si Chen, Kin-Sun Chan

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Introduction: Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) have gained increasing popularity among young adults worldwide, particularly among college students who represent a key target population for e-cigarette marketing. Understanding cognitive factors that influence e-cigarette use susceptibility is critical for developing effective prevention strategies. This study aimed to develop and validate a scale based on the Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) to assess cognitive factors related to e-cigarette use susceptibility among Chinese college students for prevention purposes.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey design was employed and data were collected among 303 students aged 18-24 years from universities in China during February 2023. A 21-item PMT scale was adapted from a previous study on Chinese youth tobacco use. Construct validity was assessed using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Internal consistency reliability was evaluated using Cronbach's α. Structural equation modeling was used to examine associations between PMT constructs and e-cigarette use susceptibility. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05, and all tests were 2-tailed. Power calculations indicated adequate sample size for the planned analyses. Concurrent validity was examined by correlating PMT constructs with e-cigarette use susceptibility.

Results: After removing one item, the final 20-item scale demonstrated good model fit in the CFA (GFI=0.917, CFI=0.933, RMSEA=0.055). Internal reliability was acceptable to good (Cronbach's α=0.52-0.83). The overall Cronbach's α coefficient was 0.831. All PMT constructs were significantly correlated with e-cigarette use susceptibility in the expected directions (p<0.05).

Conclusions: The PMT-based scale is a valid and reliable measure to investigate e-cigarette use related cognitions among Chinese college students, and can be used as a tool to guide prevention efforts. The study supports the utility of applying PMT to e-cigarette research in different socio-cultural contexts.

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基于保护动机理论的中国大学生电子烟使用评估量表：开发与验证。

电子烟（电子烟）在全世界的年轻人中越来越受欢迎，尤其是在大学生中，他们是电子烟营销的关键目标人群。了解影响电子烟使用易感性的认知因素对于制定有效的预防策略至关重要。本研究旨在开发并验证基于保护动机理论（PMT）的量表，以评估与中国大学生电子烟使用易感性相关的认知因素，以达到预防目的。方法：采用横断面调查设计，于2023年2月对303名18-24岁的中国高校学生进行调查。一个21项的PMT量表改编自先前的中国青少年烟草使用研究。采用验证性因子分析（CFA）评估结构效度。采用Cronbach’s α评价内部一致性信度。结构方程模型用于检验PMT结构与电子烟使用易感性之间的关系。结果：剔除1项后，最终的20项量表在CFA中模型拟合良好（GFI=0.917， CFI=0.933， RMSEA=0.055）。内部信度可接受至良好（Cronbach's α=0.52-0.83）。总体Cronbach’s α系数为0.831。结论：基于PMT的量表是一种有效、可靠的调查中国大学生电子烟使用相关认知的方法，可以作为指导预防工作的工具。该研究支持将PMT应用于不同社会文化背景下的电子烟研究的效用。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Tobacco Induced Diseases SUBSTANCE ABUSE-PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH

CiteScore

5.30

自引率

5.40%

发文量

审稿时长

12 weeks

期刊介绍： Tobacco Induced Diseases encompasses all aspects of research related to the prevention and control of tobacco use at a global level. Preventing diseases attributable to tobacco is only one aspect of the journal, whose overall scope is to provide a forum for the publication of research articles that can contribute to reducing the burden of tobacco induced diseases globally. To address this epidemic we believe that there must be an avenue for the publication of research/policy activities on tobacco control initiatives that may be very important at a regional and national level. This approach provides a very important "hands on" service to the tobacco control community at a global scale - as common problems have common solutions. Hence, we see ourselves as "connectors" within this global community. The journal hence encourages the submission of articles from all medical, biological and psychosocial disciplines, ranging from medical and dental clinicians, through health professionals to basic biomedical and clinical scientists.