Research Information System
JOURNAL OF SUBSTANCE USE, vol.29, pp.1236-1241, 2024 (SSCI)
Background Hookah smoking among adolescents is a growing public health concern, potentially fueled by a lack of awareness regarding its health risks. This study aimed to determine the risk factors associated with hookah smoking and explore adolescents' perceptions of its harmfulness, addictiveness and social acceptability. Methods Between October 2019 and April 2020, 400 adolescents aged 12 to 18 years participated in an interviewer-administered survey including socio-demographic characteristics, past medical history, lifestyle behaviors, tobacco use of adolescents and their immediate circle, knowledge on hookah's health risks, perceptions of hookah's addictiveness and social acceptability. Results Among adolescents 6.8% were regular hookah smokers, while 14.5% had tried hookah at least once. Adolescents who believed hookah was not addictive were more likely to perceive it as socially acceptable (p < 0.001). The perception of social acceptance increased by 1.68 times with each year of age, 2.05 times in the presence of a smoking teacher, and 10.14 times with having tried hookah once. Conclusions This study highlights that adolescents' limited knowledge of hookah's negative health effects and addictive nature contributes to its social acceptance. Moreover, in addition to family members and friends, teachers significantly impact adolescents' hookah use and their perceptions of its harmfulness, social acceptability and addictiveness.