A theory of planned behaviour approach to vaping abstinence: Examining the roles of mental health and user status

The rising trend of e-cigarette use among young adults raises significant public health concerns. Guided by the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB), this study investigated how perceived stress, anxiety, and depression relate to intentions to abstain from vaping and whether these associations differ by vaping status. A sample of 373 young adults (36.5% vapers; 63.5% non-vapers) completed validated self-report measures. TPB constructs significantly predicted abstention intentions, with perceived behavioural control emerging as the strongest predictor. Mental health indicators were indirectly associated with abstention intentions through subjective norms. These pathways varied by vaping status: attitudes were more influential among non-vapers, whereas subjective norms played a greater role among vapers. Additionally, the indirect effect of stress via subjective norms was more pronounced among current vapers. Findings underscore the interplay between mental health and social context in shaping protective health intentions, informing more targeted and psychologically informed vaping prevention strategies.