How source and message style affect young adults’ responses to vaping education
Official title: Identifying and examining the effects of source and presentation on responses to electronic cigarette public education messages in young adult vapers and non-vapers
Funded at University of Hawaii at Manoa · NIH-11413713 · Data updated 2026-11-12
We’re testing how the messenger (trusted expert vs. peer) and the way a message is presented (one-sided vs. two-sided) influence how 18–24-year-old vapers and non-vapers respond to e-cigarette education.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Hawaii at Manoa NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Honolulu, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $248,999 |
| NIH project number | 5R00CA281094-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11413713 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Young adults aged 18–24 who currently vape or do not vape but are exposed to vaping messages.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals outside the 18–24 age range or those not exposed to e-cigarette education messages may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project studies how different sources and formats of vaping education appeal to young adults. In the first phase, researchers compare expert versus peer sources and one-sided versus two-sided messages using crowdsourced feedback and physiological measures like eye-tracking and skin responses to see what grabs attention and reduces harm perceptions. The second phase will look at whether the chosen message types influence actual vaping cessation or prevention behaviors. The work integrates survey data with biological responses to identify messages that are more persuasive and believable for this age group. The goal is to identify communication strategies that could improve public health messaging about vaping for young adults.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could inform more effective vaping-education campaigns tailored to young adults, potentially reducing vaping uptake and encouraging cessation.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown that source trust and message framing influence receptivity, but this study tests specific combinations and physiological responses in young adults.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Honolulu, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lee, Donghee Nicole — University of Hawaii at Manoa
- Study coordinator: Lee, Donghee Nicole
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.