| dc.description.abstract | While there has been an extensive amount of research on
tobacco use in children and adolescents, very little has been conducted
in children with developmental delays, particularly Autism Spectrum
Disorders (ASD). Similarly, research examining newer methods of
nicotine use, such as electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS; ecigarettes) has not yet been conducted in this population. It has
previously been assumed that characteristics commonly observed in
youngsters with ASDs serve as protective factors for the initiation of
tobacco and ENDS use; however, no studies have identified the
variables that contribute to a youngster’s intention to smoke/use
ENDS in this vulnerable population. Previous studies have examined
the contributing role of exposure to secondhand smoke in the child’s
home and vehicle, particularly from parents, to tobacco use among
youth but the impact of exposure from parents who use e-cigarettes
has not been explored. This study aimed to determine rates of
combustible cigarettes and ENDS use, smoking and vaping rates in family homes and vehicles, and identify the factors associated with
future intentions to use tobacco/ENDS among youngsters with ASD. A total of 70 children (ages 10-17 yrs) and their
parents/guardians were enrolled on this study and completed an online
questionnaire about their smoking and vaping habits. Of the parents
who chose to provide their child’s demographic information, the mean
age of children in the sample was 12.68 years (SD = 2.29; range = 10
to 17 years) and the gender distribution was 78.6% male (n = 55) and
20.0% female (n = 14). Half of children (50%) endorsed a history of
cigarette use, 45.7% endorsed a history of ENDS use (n = 32), and
86.5% of children used tobacco also used ENDS products (n = 32).
Older children were more likely to smoke, (t (63)= -2.36, p = .021),
and child smoking status was significantly associated with having a
parent who smoked, X² (1, N = 70) = 16.95, p = 0.00, having peers
who smoked, X² (1, N = 70) = 42.13, p = 0.00, and exposure to
cigarettes in the home, X² (1, N = 70) = 13.83, p = 0.00, and car, X²
(1,
N = 70) = 8.00, p = 0.01. Children who vaped were older (t (63) =
-2.99, p = .004), and child vaping status was significantly associated
with parent vaping status, X² (1, N = 70) = 9.11, p = 0.00, peer vaping
status, X² (1, N = 70) = 4.14, p = 0.05, and exposure to ENDS in the
home, X² (1, N = 70) = 17.98, p = 0.00, and vehicle, X² (1, N = 70) =
8.23, p = 0.01. There were no significant differences in intentions to smoke and vape in the future among current non-smokers and non-vapers based on demographic and tobacco/ENDS-related variables.
Less than half of parents reported complete smoking (46%) and vaping bans (37%) in the home, which is lower than rates reported in
prior studies. Similarly, 34% endorsed vaping bans in the vehicle. The
collective findings from this study will inform targeted interventions
to prevent later tobacco/ENDS use among these at-risk youngsters. | en_US |
