A research study presented at the European Respiratory Society International Congress in Barcelona, Spain, revealed that teenagers whose parents smoked were more likely to have tried e-cigarettes (55%) and smoking (51%). In the large study involving Irish teenagers, the researchers found that the proportion of teenagers who have tried e-cigarettes has increased dramatically. Also, as per the study, boys were more likely to use e-cigarettes, but the rate of use among girls was increasing more rapidly.

For the study, the team examined data on 6,216 children, including information on whether their parents smoked while they were growing up, whether they smoked or used e-cigarettes, etc. Based on the data analysis, the team found that the proportion of teenagers who had tried e-cigarettes had increased from 23% in 2014 to 39% in 2019, respectively. Similarly, the proportion of teenagers who had never used tobacco when they first tried e-cigarettes increased from 32% in 2015 to 68% in 2019, respectively. They also found that the main reasons teenagers gave for trying e-cigarettes were curiosity (66%), followed by because their friends were vaping (29%), and to quit smoking (3%).

Dr. Joan Hanafin, from the University College Cork, the lead author of the study, noted that the number of teenagers using e-cigarettes was rapidly changing, so everyone needs to keep monitoring the situation around the world. Also, new plans have to be made to study the influence of social media on teenage girls and boys′ vaping behavior. 

(Source: https://www.mid-day.com/lifestyle/health-and-fitness/article/parents-who-smoke-may-influence-teenage-kids-to-pick-up-the-habit-study-23244326 )