Effects of Exposure to E-cigarette Advertising on Adolescents: A Systematic Review

INTRODUCTION: With the use of e-cigarettes among adolescents rising dramatically in the past few years (Surgeon General, 2016), e-cigarettes have become “a major public health concern” (Surgeon General, 2016). E-cigarettes are now more frequently used among youth than conventional cigarettes (Surgeon General, 2016), with approximately 4 of every 100 middle school students (4.3%) and 11 of every 100 high school students (11.3%) reported past 30-day use in 2016 —a substantial increase from 2011 (CDC, 2017). Although CDC recently reported that for the first-time e-cigarette use rates declined in 2016 (CDC, 2016), more than 2 million U.S. middle and high school students were using e-cigarettes in the past 30 days in 2016 (Gentzke, J., et al., 2017). AIM: Although there have been many research studies that focus on tobacco advertising and adolescent smoking (Surgeon General, 2012), the literature on e-cigarette advertising effects on adolescents is just emerging. The current review aims to summarize this emerging literature on the relationship between e-cigarette advertising and adolescents’ perceptions, intentions, and behavior. METHODS: A review of relevant literature RESULTS: The findings of this systematic review did show there is a relationship between e-cigarette advertising and adolescents’ perceptional, intentional, and behavioral outcomes. DISCUSSION: The results of this systematic review show effects of e-cigarette advertising on adolescents. Unregulated e-cigarette advertising may contribute to higher rates of e-cigarettes used by adolescents. Further research needs to be conducted to increase awareness about the negative effects associated with e-cigarette advertising