Understanding how friends influence vaping among adolescents

Using Social Network Analysis to Understand Peer Influences on ENDS Use

['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA · NIH-10890606

This study is looking at how friends influence high school students' choices to start and keep using vaping products, with about 5,000 students sharing their experiences to help understand these social connections better and find ways to reduce vaping among teens.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_R01']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorUNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (nih funded)
Locations1 site (Los Angeles, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-10890606 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

This research investigates the impact of friendship networks on the use of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), such as vaping, among high school students. By adding questions about students' closest friends to existing surveys, the study aims to gather data on how peer influences affect the initiation and continued use of vaping products. Approximately 5,000 students will participate, providing insights into the social dynamics that contribute to vaping behaviors. The findings could help inform targeted interventions to reduce ENDS use among adolescents.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are high school students, particularly those in 9th grade, who are either current users of ENDS or at risk of starting.

Not a fit: Patients who are not adolescents or those who do not engage in social networks related to vaping may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective strategies for preventing vaping among adolescents by addressing peer influences.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has successfully demonstrated the influence of social networks on tobacco use, suggesting that this approach may yield valuable insights into ENDS use as well.

Where this research is happening

Los Angeles, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.