A causal relationship model of factors affecting preventive behaviors for electronic cigarette use among Youth in Bangkok metropolitan

Abstract

This study is causal relationship research with the objective of empirically validating the causal structure of relationships in promoting behavior and preventing electronic cigarette consumption among youth in the Bangkok metropolitan area with empirical data. The sample group consists of middle school students in Bangkok aged 13 - 15 years, A total of 720 students. The sampling was done using multi-stage sampling methods. Data was collected using a questionnaire, which was content-validated by five experts and had an overall reliability of 0.94. The data was analyzed using structural equation modeling techniques. The results showed that the structural model of causal relationships in promoting behavior in preventing electronic cigarette consumption among youth in Bangkok metropolitan area was consistent with the empirical data after model adjustment (chi-square = 43.759, df = 17, p<0.05, chi-square/df = 2.574, RMSEA = 0.047, CFI = 0.994, RFI = 0.960). Path analysis results indicated that the intention towards behavior in preventing electronic cigarette consumption was significantly influenced by attitudes towards non-consumption of electronic cigarettes, media literacy regarding electronic cigarette advertisements, and perceived behavioral control over behavior in preventing electronic cigarette consumption,
with standardized influence coefficients of 0.70, 0.60, and 0.40, respectively, at a significance level of 0.05.