Examining the relationship between coping strategies and self-efficacy levels of adults and their use of tobacco products: The case of electronic cigarette

The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between coping strategies and self-efficacy levels of adult individuals and their tobacco product use, especially electronic cigarette use. While the population of the study consisted of tobacco product users between the ages of 18-61, the sample consisted of a total of 257 participants, 92 (35.8%) males and 165 (64.2%) females living in Turkey. Data were collected using the Demographic Information Form, Fagerström Nicotine Dependence Test, COPE Coping Attitudes Scale, Psychological Dependence of Smoking Scale and General Self-Efficacy Scale. The research data were analyzed using SPSS-24 software. According to the findings obtained in the study, it was found that the coping strategies levels of adults who do not use electronic cigarettes are significantly higher than those of adults who use electronic cigarettes. In addition, it was found that the psychological dependence levels of electronic cigarette users were higher than non-users. In the analysis conducted according to the gender variable, it was found that the level of coping strategies of female participants was higher than male participants, in addition, when the age variable was examined, it was found that the rate of electronic cigarette use of individuals in the 26-33 age group was significantly higher than other age groups. It was found that there were significant differences between the general self-efficacy levels of electronic cigarette users and the frequency of changing e-cigarette devices, and that there were significant differences between nicotine addiction and psychological dependence levels of smoking according to the amount of daily cigarette consumption of individuals who did not use electronic cigarettes. According to the results of the research, it can be said that individuals' methods of coping with stress have a determining effect on their use of electronic cigarettes and tobacco and their addiction levels vary according to their usage habits. According to this result, various suggestions were made.