Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41019462›Full record

ArticleTobacco induced diseases2025

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

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

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In one paragraph

Article in Tobacco induced diseases, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

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2citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

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3 · Its place in the literature

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2 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Yu Chen *School of Art and Communication, Fujian Polytechnic Normal University, Fuqing, China.
Zining Wang *School of Journalism and Communication, Peking University, Beijing, China.
Jing Xu *School of Journalism and Communication, Peking University, Beijing, China.
Xindou ChenSchool of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China.
Yujiang CaiSchool of International Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China.
Si ChenChina National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment, Beijing, China.
Kin-Sun ChanFaculty of Social Sciences, University of Macau, Macau SAR, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionElectronic 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.

methodsA 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.

resultsAfter 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).

conclusionsThe 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.

Indexed as

college studentse-cigaretteprotection motivation theoryscalesusceptibility

Identifiers

PMID41019462
PMCPMC12465111

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.