Ethnicity and waterpipe smoking among US students

Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2012 Nov;16(11):1551-7. doi: 10.5588/ijtld.12.0152. Epub 2012 Sep 18.

Abstract

Objectives: To examine the effect of ethnicity on waterpipe smoking among college students.

Design: A cross-sectional study utilized data from University of Houston students through an online survey (n = 2334) from March to April 2011. The survey included questions on demographic characteristics (sex, age, race/ethnicity), tobacco use experience, risk perception, social acceptability and popularity. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine predictors of waterpipe use with three outcomes: ever-use vs. no use, past-year use vs. no use and past-month use vs. no use.

Results: Half of the sample had previously smoked tobacco using a waterpipe, approximately a third in the past year and 12.5% in the past month. Significant predictors included Middle Eastern ethnicity, Middle Eastern friend, past cigarette or cigar use. Perception of harm was associated with less use in the ever-use model, while perceived addictiveness, social acceptability and popularity of waterpipes were predictors in all models.

Conclusion: Our findings underscore the importance of developing culturally appropriate interventions to control waterpipe smoking among Middle Eastern Americans and those of Indian/Pakistani descent to curb further spread in US society, and highlight the importance of developing interventions that target the perceived addictiveness, social acceptability and popularity of waterpipe smoking.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Ethnicity / statistics & numerical data*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • India / ethnology
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Middle East / ethnology
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Pakistan / ethnology
  • Psychological Distance
  • Smoking / epidemiology*
  • Smoking / psychology
  • Students / psychology
  • Students / statistics & numerical data*
  • United States / epidemiology
  • Universities
  • Young Adult