Ego networks associated with e-cigarette use among college fraternity students: a cross-sectional study

Objective: To use egocentric network analysis (ENA) to identify how the role of social networks relates to e-cigarette use among college fraternity members.

Participants: 212 fraternity members participated in this study.

Methods: Hierarchical logistic regression analyses assessed the relationship between egocentric network variables and ever use and current use of e-cigarettes. Network variables were created based on two relational networks of important and communicative networks.

Results: Seventy-three percent (155/212) of our sample have used an e-cigarette at least once in their lifetime, and 41% (89/212) of our sample currently use e-cigarettes. Important people networks were significantly associated with ever use and current use while communicative networks were not significantly associated with ever use or current use of e-cigarettes among our sample population.

Conclusion: Perceived positive reactions to e-cigarette use by important relationships may be an important factor associated with ever use and e-cigarette use for fraternity members.