CONFERENCE PROCEEDING
Does perceived stress moderate the link between the intention to lose weight and the use of various tobacco and nicotine products among Hungarian adolescents?
1
Institute of Psychology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
2
Institute of Psychology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary; Centre of Excellence in Responsible Gaming, University of Gibraltar, Europa Point Campus, Gibraltar
3
Institute of Psychology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary; Gottsegen National Cardiovascular Center, Budapest, Hungary
Tob. Prev. Cessation 2026;12(Supplement 1):A163
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND-AIM:
There is substantial evidence that perceived stress and intention to lose weight (ILW) are independent predictors of smoking and e-cigarette (EC) use among adolescents, however, little is known about their effect on heated tobacco product (HTP) use. Furthermore, it is unclear whether perceived stress modifies the effect of ILW on various tobacco/nicotine products’ use. This study aims to explore the association between perceived stress, ILW, and current conventional cigarettes (CC), EC and HTP use among Hungarian adolescents, and to test if the relationships between ILW and current product use are moderated by perceived stress.
METHODS:
The online, cross-sectional HBSC Hungary survey was conducted between April–June, 2022, involving a representative sample of Hungarian adolescents from grades 5th, 7th, 9^(th) and 11th (N=6,291, 49.1% males). Descriptive characteristics of the weighted sample were explored by Chi-square test, means and standard deviation and Mann-Whitney U test. Three separate hierarchical binary logistic regression analyses were conducted with current CC, EC and HTP use as the outcome variables and ILW as the covariate. The moderator effect of perceived stress was added as an interaction term into the regression models. Age, sex, body mass index (BMI), family affluence scale variables were included as control variables.
RESULTS:
Mean age of the sample was 14.9 years (SD=2.41), current use of CC, EC, and HTP use was 22.9%, 24.1%, and 14.8%, respectively. Among girls, current use was significantly greater for CC and HTP use, but not for EC use (24.6%, p<0.001; 15.7%, p=0.044; 24.8%, p=0.222, respectively), compared to boys (21.2%, 13.9%, 23.4%, respectively). Mean BMI of the sample was 21.0 kg/m2 (SD=4.53), and 40.0% of adolescent reported ILW (girls: 49.0%, boys: 31.9%, p<0.001). In the weighted and adjusted regression models, both perceived stress and ILW increased significantly the odds of current CC and EC use, but for current HTP use, ILW did not have a significant effect (for perceived stress: AOR_(CC)=1.13, 95%CI:1.10–1.17; AOR_(EC)=1.12, 95%CI:1.09–1.16; AOR_(HTP)=1.05, 95%CI:1.01–1.09; for ILW: AOR_(CC)=1.64, 95%CI:1.11–2.42; AOR_(EC)=1.95, 95%CI:1.35–2.83; AOR_(HTP)=1.41, 95%CI:0.92–2.17). Interaction between perceived stress and ILW to predict current CC and EC use was detected, but not for current HTP use. The interaction term between ILW and perceived stress was significant and negative (b=–0.062, p=0.009), indicating that perceived stress moderates the effect of ILW on current CC and EC use.
CONCLUSIONS:
Our findings suggest that both perceived stress and ILW may have effect on current CC, EC, and HTP use among Hungarian adolescents. However, the positive effect of ILW decreases as perceived stress increases. Tobacco prevention interventions for adolescents should consider incorporating stress management and weight concern-related contents.
There is substantial evidence that perceived stress and intention to lose weight (ILW) are independent predictors of smoking and e-cigarette (EC) use among adolescents, however, little is known about their effect on heated tobacco product (HTP) use. Furthermore, it is unclear whether perceived stress modifies the effect of ILW on various tobacco/nicotine products’ use. This study aims to explore the association between perceived stress, ILW, and current conventional cigarettes (CC), EC and HTP use among Hungarian adolescents, and to test if the relationships between ILW and current product use are moderated by perceived stress.
METHODS:
The online, cross-sectional HBSC Hungary survey was conducted between April–June, 2022, involving a representative sample of Hungarian adolescents from grades 5th, 7th, 9^(th) and 11th (N=6,291, 49.1% males). Descriptive characteristics of the weighted sample were explored by Chi-square test, means and standard deviation and Mann-Whitney U test. Three separate hierarchical binary logistic regression analyses were conducted with current CC, EC and HTP use as the outcome variables and ILW as the covariate. The moderator effect of perceived stress was added as an interaction term into the regression models. Age, sex, body mass index (BMI), family affluence scale variables were included as control variables.
RESULTS:
Mean age of the sample was 14.9 years (SD=2.41), current use of CC, EC, and HTP use was 22.9%, 24.1%, and 14.8%, respectively. Among girls, current use was significantly greater for CC and HTP use, but not for EC use (24.6%, p<0.001; 15.7%, p=0.044; 24.8%, p=0.222, respectively), compared to boys (21.2%, 13.9%, 23.4%, respectively). Mean BMI of the sample was 21.0 kg/m2 (SD=4.53), and 40.0% of adolescent reported ILW (girls: 49.0%, boys: 31.9%, p<0.001). In the weighted and adjusted regression models, both perceived stress and ILW increased significantly the odds of current CC and EC use, but for current HTP use, ILW did not have a significant effect (for perceived stress: AOR_(CC)=1.13, 95%CI:1.10–1.17; AOR_(EC)=1.12, 95%CI:1.09–1.16; AOR_(HTP)=1.05, 95%CI:1.01–1.09; for ILW: AOR_(CC)=1.64, 95%CI:1.11–2.42; AOR_(EC)=1.95, 95%CI:1.35–2.83; AOR_(HTP)=1.41, 95%CI:0.92–2.17). Interaction between perceived stress and ILW to predict current CC and EC use was detected, but not for current HTP use. The interaction term between ILW and perceived stress was significant and negative (b=–0.062, p=0.009), indicating that perceived stress moderates the effect of ILW on current CC and EC use.
CONCLUSIONS:
Our findings suggest that both perceived stress and ILW may have effect on current CC, EC, and HTP use among Hungarian adolescents. However, the positive effect of ILW decreases as perceived stress increases. Tobacco prevention interventions for adolescents should consider incorporating stress management and weight concern-related contents.
| eISSN: | 2459-3087 |
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