Hookah Use among College Students at a Large Midwestern University

Background: National data indicate an increase in lifetime use and 30-day prevalence of hookah use, among college students regardless of gender (ACHA/NCHA II, 2010). This growth represents a need to understand the motivating factors behind the behavior. As a result, this study assessed the perceptions and beliefs of hookah users at a large Midwestern University. Methods: An anonymous, online survey was sent to 2,000 randomly selected undergraduate students from a large Midwestern University. Researchers used a cross sectional research design to determine the prevalence and motivating factors associated with hookah use. In addition, beliefs about the health risks and perceived addictiveness of hookah were assessed. Results: Respondents included 445 individuals (60% female) with an average age of 23.1 (SD=12.32), yielding a response rate of 22%. Approximately 15.4% of the sample had previously smoked hookah, while 6% used hookah within the past 30 days. This rate is less than the national rate of 7.2% (ACHA/NCHA II, 2010).Common motivating factors associated with smoking hookah included socializing/partying (29%), friends (27%), and as a relaxant (25%). Ninety-eight percent believed they could quit smoking hookah at any time, while 12% indicated uncertainty regarding the health effects of hookah use. Conclusions: The results from this study suggest hookah use is limited to a small percentage of students. Students appear to smoke hookah for social reasons and underestimate the addictive properties associated with the product. Researchers and practitioners need to develop and evaluate specific interventions to educate students about the health hazards associated with this product.