Research has consistently indicated that multiple factors drive teen vaping, including stress, psychological issues, and specific personality traits. Some studies have linked high levels of anxiety and depression to an increased likelihood of vaping, as teens may turn to nicotine as a form of self-medication. While others have shown that traits like impulsivity and risk-taking increase susceptibility to vaping, highlighting the need for tailored prevention efforts.
A recent study from the University of Michigan explored the primary reasons adolescents in the U.S. choose to vape, revealing that curiosity, stress relief, and boredom are significant factors. Published in Pediatrics, the research analyzed survey data from over 5,000 students in 8th, 10th, and 12th grades and found relaxation to be the leading reason for vaping, regardless of age or frequency of use. Among students who vape nearly daily, about 70% cited relaxation as a primary motivator, with additional reasons including the desire to feel good, convenience over cigarettes, and, in some cases, managing weight.
Lead study author Megan Patrick, highlighted that understanding these varied motivations is essential to developing effective prevention strategies, adding that the findings indicated that integrating mental health support into anti-vaping programs could be beneficial. Notably, vaping for relaxation has risen in prevalence, becoming a top reason cited by teens, unlike in 2015 when it was ranked lower. This shift suggests that teens increasingly view vaping as a way to cope with stress rather than just an experimental activity.
For older teens, especially 12th graders, the data showed that 43% of daily users vape out of perceived addiction, while a significant number report vaping for weight control, highlighting complex motives that may require tailored intervention. Researchers stress the importance of screening teens for stress, anxiety, and nicotine addiction simultaneously to better identify those at risk.
The study’s findings draw from the “Monitoring the Future” surveys conducted from 2021 to 2023, which track changes in adolescent substance use and motivations over time. Patrick and her team aim to continue examining how these trends evolve, with a particular focus on how motivations like stress relief and self-perceived addiction influence vaping patterns among teens and contribute to long-term risks.
Childhood trauma – the overlooked risk factor for any teen addiction
Meanwhile, a study from (of all places) Australia, where authorities have been refusing to consider any approach to tackle teen vaping other than prohibition, has found a link between childhood trauma and vaping habits among teens. Childhood trauma, including emotional, physical, and sexual abuse or exposure to serious accidents and disasters, has long been associated with increased substance use in adulthood. This study, however, is the first to examine the connection between childhood trauma and vaping among Australian adolescents, and it reveals that teens who experienced trauma before age 12 are more likely to start vaping, vape regularly, and intend to continue in the future.
While quitting nicotine is challenging for most, the study suggests that teens with traumatic backgrounds may need additional support to stop due to several unique factors. The study highlighted that trauma can lead to difficulties in managing emotions, often causing individuals to turn to substances like nicotine as a form of self-medication. This is especially problematic for adolescents since the developing brain is particularly sensitive to nicotine’s effects, leading to quicker addiction and stronger cravings than in adults.
Part of the Health4Life project, the study analyzed survey responses from 2,234 students in Years 7 and 8 across New South Wales, Queensland, and Western Australia. It found that by age 15, teens who experienced trauma by age 12 were significantly more likely to have vaped (64%), vape regularly (63%), or express intentions to vape in the future (44%). This suggests that these teens, many of whom may already be nicotine-dependent, are at higher risk of facing barriers to quitting.
However, quitting vapes remains challenging for teens due to limited evidence on effective adolescent-specific cessation methods. These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted cessation support to help trauma-affected teens combat nicotine addiction and highlights the potential role of mental health support alongside pharmacological assistance in helping them quit.
The danger of ignoring the source of addictive behaviours
Sadly however, local authorities tend to take the opposite approach. Discussing this study with Australian smoking cessation expert and physician Dr. Colin Menelsohn, he reiterated how Australia keeps failing to deal with the root cause of the issue. “This is yet more evidence that young people with mental health issues and trauma are more likely to vape (and to smoke, drink, use drugs etc). Of course the underlying issues are far more important than the fact that they are vaping. However, in Australia, the narrative is to focus on youth vaping and how to stop it, rather than addressing the underlying markers.”
In line with longstanding arguments and insights by addiction experts, studies have consistently underscored the need to address the root causes of substance use rather than focusing solely on limiting supply. Merely restricting access can drive users to alternative, sometimes riskier sources, leading to thriving black markets as in fact is the case in Australia. Effective prevention strategies focus on mental health support, stress management, and resilience-building, targeting the psychological and environmental roots that drive substance use behaviors.
