The Effects of Electronic Cigarette and Traditional Cigarette Consumption Habits on Sleep Quality, Fatigue, Mental Health, and Quality of Life

E-cigarettes are battery-powered devices that vaporize a solution that may or may not contain nicotine. Carcinogens and other toxins in e-cigarettes can have negative effects on physical health, and their potential negative effects on mental health are also a concern. Adults in the US who experience serious psychological distress are reported to be more likely to use traditional cigarettes (tobacco), e-cigarettes, or both than adults without serious psychological distress. A relationship between traditional cigarette smoking and mental illness, including depression, is well-known. Recent studies have also found that depressive symptoms are associated with e-cigarette use. A study comparing the relationship between different cigarette products and depressive symptoms found that dual use (traditional cigarettes and e-cigarettes) in young adults was associated with higher depressive symptoms than single use.

Another mental health factor associated with smoking is sleep health. Nicotine is thought to be the primary mechanism linking traditional cigarette use to sleep disorders, as acute withdrawal during the night can cause uncomfortable and sleep-disrupting physiological symptoms. This relationship is also observed in e-cigarette users. In a study conducted with university students, e-cigarette users reported poorer sleep health compared to non-smokers.

Smoking and e-cigarette use are also known to affect fatigue and quality of life. Cao et al. evaluated non-smokers, traditional cigarette users, e-cigarette users, and dual users in terms of fatigue and quality of life. They reported that non-smokers had the lowest fatigue and highest quality of life among these four groups, while the e-cigarette user group had less fatigue and higher quality of life than the traditional cigarette user group.

Various studies in the literature compare e-cigarette and traditional cigarette users in terms of fatigue, sleep quality, depression, mental health, and quality of life. However, there are insufficient studies evaluating all parameters and investigating the relationships among these parameters. Therefore, we believe that our study will provide valuable contributions to the literature in this area.

Another mental health factor associated with smoking is sleep health. Nicotine is thought to be the mechanism linking traditional cigarette use to sleep disorders, as acute withdrawal during the night can cause uncomfortable and sleep-disrupting physiological symptoms. This relationship is also seen in e-cigarette users. In a study conducted with university students, e-cigarette users reported poorer sleep health compared to non-smokers. Smoking and e-cigarette use are also known to affect fatigue and quality of life. Cao et al. evaluated non-smokers, traditional cigarette users, e-cigarette users, and both in terms of fatigue and quality of life. They reported that non-smokers had the lowest fatigue and highest quality of life among these four groups. The e-cigarette user group had less fatigue and higher quality of life than the traditional cigarette user group. Various studies in the literature compare e-cigarette and traditional cigarette users in terms of fatigue, sleep quality, depression, mental health, and quality of life. However, there are insufficient studies evaluating all parameters and investigating their relationship with each other. Therefore, we believe our study will contribute to the literature in this area.