Title : Evaluating parental knowledge, misconceptions, and preventive strategies related to teenage vaping and their influence on adolescent health outcomes
Abstract:
Background: Teen vaping continues to rise, posing significant health risk including nicotine dependence, respiratory irritation, and long-term pulmonary complications. Parents play a vital role in influencing and shaping adolescents’ health behaviors; however, their knowledge of vaping products and the strategies they use to prevent use of, vary widely. According to Becker and Rice (2021), youth vaping is now a well-studied phenomenon with various physical and behavioral health risks. Understanding parental knowledge and preventive strategies influence adolescent vaping behaviors, is essential for effective public health interventions.
Aims of the study: This systematic review evaluates parental knowledge of teen vaping, identifies commonly used preventive strategies, and examines how these factors influence adolescents’ vaping behaviors and health outcomes.
Methods: A systematic search of peer-reviewed literature published between 2020 and 2026 to capture the most current evidence related to vaping trends, parental awareness, and adolescent health outcomes is conducted across PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO and Scopus. Studies include the assessment of parental knowledge, communication, monitoring or prevention strategies related to adolescent vaping. Data extracted and synthesized.
Discussion and Implications: This systematic review indicates that parental knowledge and the use of preventive strategies play a vital role in changing adolescents’ vaping behaviors and related health outcomes. Many parents lack accurate and up-to-date information about vaping devices, nicotine concentration, and the potential health risks. The gaps in parental understanding influence the inconsistency in the prevention efforts and decrease the overall effectiveness of parental guidance. Parents who engaged in open, supportive dialogue and establish clear communication and expectations tend to have adolescents with lower rates of vaping and some expressed uncertainties as to how to address vaping among their teens, underscoring the need for further educational interventions and updating prevention strategies.
