Sociologists have discovered what attracts teenagers to vaping.

Vaping emerged less than a century ago, and its effects on the human body are not yet fully understood. Numerous contemporary studies focus on this form of smoking. For instance, authors of recent scientific articles discovered high levels of lead and uranium in the urine of young vapers, and created a psychological profile of individuals prone to vaping.

Experts from the University of Michigan in the USA analyzed the reasons that motivate teenagers to start using vape and found that the motivations of today's teens differ from those of their peers in 2015. A scientific article with this conclusion was published in the journal Pediatrics.

The study involved 5,082 students from eighth, tenth, and twelfth grades in schools across the USA. They answered questions in an online survey, sharing their vaping experiences.

It turned out that at the time of the survey, 1.7% of eighth graders, 4.2% of tenth graders, and 7.8% of twelfth graders had vaped almost every day in the past month. Among them, 70% reported that vaping was a way to relax, and this reason became the most popular across all respondent groups.

The second most frequent reason was the desire to experiment, followed by boredom. A common reason mentioned was the appealing taste of the vapor. Those who vape daily frequently noted that it helps them "feel good" or is simply "more convenient than cigarettes."

Researchers indicated that over the past 10 years, the motivation for smoking teenagers has changed: previously, the most common reason for nicotine use was curiosity, while stress relief and relaxation ranked fifth. This should be taken into account in efforts to combat smoking at a young age.

“Among teenagers who vape almost daily, 43% report that they do so because they are hooked. It is concerning that so many adolescents feel dependent on nicotine. Another reason mentioned by about one in five individuals who vape almost daily was the desire to control their weight. Further research on this matter is needed, but parents and healthcare professionals should be aware that many teenagers vape to lose weight or avoid gaining it,” emphasized the authors of the article.

According to scientists, teenagers should not only be tested for nicotine but also screened for stress and anxiety. This will allow for earlier detection and more effective prevention of addiction at a young age.