Dr. Hsien-Chang Lin

Objective: Existing literature on young adults’ e-cigarette and polysubstance use focused on college students. This study examined the differences between college and noncollege groups on prevalence and patterns of e-cigarette and other substance use using data from a national survey. Participants: Adults aged 18–24 from the 2013–2014 Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study (n = 6,608). Methods: Independent sample t-tests and Chi-square tests were conducted to examine group differences. Results: Noncollege young adults had higher prevalence of cigarette, e-cigarette, and marijuana use; college students had higher prevalence of alcohol use. Among current e-cigarette users, college students had higher prevalence of polysubstance use of alcohol and marijuana. College students used e-cigarettes for socializing purposes more. Conclusions: Differences in prevalence and patterns of e-cigarette and other substance use between college and noncollege groups exist. Future interventions should target the social context of college life and reach out to noncollege young adults in workplaces.

1 January 2018 in Addictive Behaviors

Journal Article

The effect of e-cigarette warning labels on college students' perception of e-cigarettes and intention to use e-cigarettes

Hsiao-Yun Lee

Hsien-Chang Lin

Dong-Chul Seo

David K. Lohrmann

1 September 2018 in Addictive Behaviors

Journal Article

The association between e-cigarette use characteristics and combustible cigarette consumption and dependence symptoms: Results from a national longitudinal study

5 October 2018 in Journal of American College Health

Journal Article

Measuring characteristics of e-cigarette consumption among college students

Objective: E-cigarette use among college students has increased drastically in recent years. This study aims to inform development of a comprehensive measure of e-cigarette consumption for this population. Participants and Methods: This mixed-method study collected both quantitative and qualitative data from a sample of 43 experienced e-cigarette users from two college campuses, using a self-reported questionnaire and a semi-structured interview, in March–September of 2017. Results: College student users found some of the consumption questions in national surveys difficult to answer. Switching nicotine levels, mixing flavors, co-using with alcohol and marijuana, using with others who were vaping or drinking, and vaping in a car or indoor space were all common. The participants defined “regular user” based on ownership of a device rather than on quantity/frequency. Conclusions: A comprehensive e-cigarette consumption measure should cover the complex characteristics that are potentially associated with negative health consequences such as flavorings, co-use and social contexts.

About Me

Hsien-Chang Lin is a Professor in the School of Public Health at Indiana University Bloomington. He received his B.A. in Economics & Sociology and M.A. in Economics from the National Taiwan University in 2002 and 2004, respectively, earned his M.A. in Applied Economics and his Dual Ph.D. in Health Policy & Pharmaceutical Health Services Research from the University of Michigan in 2007 and 2010, respectively. He was also a postdoc in Pharmacoepidemiology at the University of Michigan Medical Center. He was honored with the Mentorship Award of the American Academy of Health Behavior (AAHB) in 2023 and the Fellow of the American Academy of Health Behavior (AAHB) in 2019. The primary focus of his research is the application of quantitative methodologies to examine various behaviors, such as substance use/misuse, health services prescribing and utilization, and associated health outcomes. Additionally, he is particularly interested in understanding how policies can influence substance use and misuse behaviors, such as vaping, marijuana use, and the prescribing and use/misuse of prescription opioids.

Dr. Hsien-Chang Lin

Dr. Hsien-Chang Lin

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About Me