Assessing the Testability of the Multi-Theory Model (MTM) in Predicting Vaping Quitting Behavior among Young Adults in the United States: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Abstract

Purpose: Given the increased exposure to e-cigarettes and nicotine among young adults, difficulty in quitting vaping is likely, which supports the need for effective behavioral interventions. Therefore, this cross-sectional study aims to assess the testability of the contemporary multi-theory model of health behavior change in predicting the vaping quitting behavior among young adults in the United States. Methods: A nationally representative sample of 619 young adults engaged in vaping behavior and aged 18–24 years was recruited to complete a 49-item web-based survey. A structural equation model was used to test relationships between MTM constructs. Hierarchical multiple regression was utilized to predict the variance in the initiation and sustenance of vaping quitting behavior by predictor variables, such as demographic characteristics, history of behaviors, and MTM constructs. Results: Of 619 respondents, over 75% were White and nearly 70% had educational attainment equal to high school or some college. In total, 62% of respondents were using nicotine, followed by 33.3% were using cannabis. About 80% of the respondents reported being engaged in drinking alcohol, and nearly 45% were engaged in cigarette smoking. The predictive effect of all MTM constructs on vaping quitting initiation (adjusted R2 = 0.417, F (23, 595) = 20.215, p < 0.001) and sustenance (adjusted R2 = 0.366, F (23, 595) = 16.533, p < 0.001) was statistically significant. Conclusions: The findings of this study point to the usability and applicability of MTM in operationalizing and developing vaping quitting behavior interventions targeting young adults.

Predicting Flossing through the Application of the Multi-Theory Model (MTM) of Health Behavior Change among Minority Adolescents in the United States

“…This can be built by exploring and building on sources of confidence for the adolescent, helping them gain mastery over the skill of flossing, teaching flossing techniques in small steps, helping them overcome anxiety or other barriers related to changing the habit of flossing, and other such measures. This finding regarding the role of behavioral confidence is supported by several studies utilizing the MTM with different behaviors [ 50 , 51 , 52 ]. Further, the inferential finding substantiated the descriptive findings regarding the role that instruction in school settings can play for minority adolescents in changing their flossing behavior.…”

Examining the Gambling Behavior of University Students: A Cross-Sectional Survey Applying the Multi-Theory Model (MTM) of Health Behavior Change in a Single Institution

“…All three constructs were found to be significant predictors of the likelihood of practice initiation among those who had participated in gambling during the past month. There is evidence from other studies on MTM that these three constructs are important for behavior change [26,29,35]. While this is the first study of MTM with gambling behavior, in an MTM study to understand quitting vaping behavior [29], all three constructs of initiation were statistically significant and accounted for 42% of the variance.…”

“…The MTM has been widely applied to assess various health behaviors such as physical activity, teeth brushing, and COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy [26][27][28], to name a few. Furthermore, MTM has been used to study other addictive behaviors such as vaping, smoking, and substance use [29][30][31]. The combined predictive effect of all MTM constructs on vaping quitting initiation was found to be 41.7%, while for sustenance it was 36.6% [29].…”

“…Furthermore, MTM has been used to study other addictive behaviors such as vaping, smoking, and substance use [29][30][31]. The combined predictive effect of all MTM constructs on vaping quitting initiation was found to be 41.7%, while for sustenance it was 36.6% [29]. The smoke cessation study was a qualitative study and the interview tool used in the study was guided by the MTM, allowing for a more comprehensive assessment of the personal and socio-environmental factors influencing smoking cessation [30].…”

Applying Multi-Theory Model (MTM) in Determining Intentions to Smoking Cessation among male Health Worker Smokers in Kabul, Afghanistan

“…Emotional intelligence is essential to the transformation of an individual’s emotions and consequently can be used in the MTM to direct emotion in a way that will help the smoker quit and change their behavior by overcoming uncertainty [35]. There is a positive correlation between emotional transformation and the sustainability of studies such as smoking cessation [14, 17], tobacco cessation [18], water pipe smoking [19], Smoking cessation in youth [20], and vaping quitting behavior [45].…”