Mental health condition indicators and e-cigarette use among sexual minority youth

Background: Sexual minorities face mental health disparities compared to heterosexual people. There is limited research on the possible connections between mental health and e-cigarette use among sexual minority youth. This study examines anxiety, depression, and e-cigarette use for sexual minority youth only and between sexual minorities versus straight youth. Methods: Study data were drawn from the 2021 National Youth Tobacco Survey (n = 16,065). Prevalence of self-reported anxiety and depression by sexual minority status was calculated, and the univariate analysis was assessed using Rao-Scott Chi-Square tests. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to evaluate the association of current e-cigarette use with self-reported anxiety and depression among sexual minority youth. The study also examined current e-cigarette use between sexual minorities versus straight students for those with or without anxiety and depression, and stratified analyses were performed by sex. Results: Analysis showed a substantially higher prevalence of all self-reported mental health problems among sexual minorities than straight students. Sexual minority males with anxiety (aOR 1.91, 95 % CI, 1.22–3.00), depression (aOR 2.08, 95 % CI, 1.27–3.40), moderate depression and anxiety (aOR 1.85, 95 % CI, 1.16–2.97), and severe depression and anxiety (aOR 2.03, 95 % CI, 1.16–3.56) were more likely to be current e-cigarette users than their straight peers with similar mental health conditions. Limitations: Self-reported measures and the analysis design precludes making causal inferences. Conclusions: Sexual minority males with mental health conditions may be particularly vulnerable to e-cigarette use and may require special efforts toward prevention and cessation.