Date of Award

2025

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts in Psychology

Specialization

Clinical Psychology

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Mark Robbins

Abstract

Statement of the Problem: An estimated 18.6% of individuals aged 18-24 and 15.9% of individuals aged 25-29 are vaping, with approximately half of the individuals in each of these groups reporting daily use. With vaping behavior on the rise, the current study aims to provide valuable information to understand patterns of vaping behavior to support intervention development and implementation.

Method: The aim of the current study was to develop a Processes of Change (POC) measure for vaping cessation in a young adult population in the United States. Previous POC measures, extensive qualitative literature review, and review of existing qualitative research (N=20), were used to build an initial set of 80 items (8 items for each of the 10 constructs). Quantitative data (N = 501) were collected for POC, Stage of Change, Decisional Balance, Temptation, PENN State Nicotine Dependence, and demographic measures. Due to the number of subscales being used and the existence of a strongly supported, pre-established theoretical frame and empirically supported model for the related behavior of smoking traditional cigarettes, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) using structural equation modeling was used to refine and confirm the POC measure.

Results: A total of 501 adults, ages 18-29, completed an online questionnaire. The CFA resulted in a 10-factor, two higher-order structure, χ2(695) = 2111.64, CFI = 0.905, RMSEA = 0.065, and SRMR = 0.046. with good model fit. Factor loadings ranged from 0.613 - 0.868, and internal consistency for each factor was acceptable, ranging from α = 0.77 to α = 0.87.

Discussion: In consideration of the extensive public health risks related to the vaping epidemic, there is an urgent need to understand cessation behaviors. The development of the POC for vaping cessation augments the existing TTM-based measures for vaping behavior and provides a key source of information for the development of future interventions for nicotine vaping cessation.

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