Identity crisis? Vapers who continue to smoke are in denial about their addiction and could struggle to kick the habit
Describing a typical smoker as smelly, inconsiderate and lacking self-control, many who use e-cigarettes -- also known as vaping -- while continuing to smoke traditional cigarettes are likely to try to distance themselves from a group they regard negatively, the research found. One participant commented that he would be offended if labelled a smoker and another said he regarded himself as a vaper because it was more socially acceptable -- despite both participants still smoking traditional cigarettes. Dr Tushna Vandrevala, an expert in Health Psychology and Senior Lecturer at London's Kingston University who co-wrote the report, said there was limited evidence about why, despite being promoted as a means of smoking cessation, the use of e-cigarettes did not always help smokers to kick the habit. "Our study suggests this may be linked to identity," Dr Vandrevala said. "People who exclusively smoke cigarettes and wish to dissociate themselves from the negative s...