Document Type : Original Article(s)

Authors

• Hamidreza Roohafza ¹
• Masoumeh Sadeghi ²
• Maryam Shahnam ³
• Pedram Shokouh ⁴
• Soheila Teimori ⁴
• Afshin Amirpour ⁵
• Nizal Sarrafzadegan ⁶

¹ Assistant Professor, Head of Tobacco Control Unit, Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Center, Isfahan Cardiovascular Research institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. Isfahan, Iran

² Associate Professor, Cardiac Rehabilitation Research Center, Isfahan Cardiovascular Research institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. Isfahan, Iran

³ Research Assistant, Tobacco Control Unit, Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Center, Isfahan Cardiovascular Research institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. Isfahan, Iran

⁴ Research Assistant, Tobacco Control Unit, Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Center, Isfahan Cardiovascular Research institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

⁵ Interventional Cardiologist, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

⁶ Professor, Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Center, Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

Abstract

BACKGROUND: First experiences of tobacco use usually occur in adolescence. The recognition of social norms leading to youth smoking is hence necessary. We tried to assess the social norms among Iranian young cigarette and hookah smokers. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 451 girls and 361 boys aging 20-25 years old who entered Isfahan and Kashan Universities (Iran) in 2007. Demographic factors (age, gender, and age at smoking onset) cigarette and hookah smoking status, having a smoking father or smoking friends and four related social norms were recorded. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to separately determine associations between hookah and cigarette smoking and the four social norm variables. RESULTS: Cigarette and hookah smokers had significant differences with nonsmokers in two social norms: “Perceived smoking by important characters” [odds ratio (OR) = 1.35 in cigarette smokers and 1.58 in hookah smokers; P < 0.001] and “smoking makes gatherings friendly” (OR = 3.62 in cigarette smokers and 6.16 in hookah smokers; P < 0.001). Furthermore, cigarette and hookah smoking were significantly associated with having smoking friends. CONCLUSION: Highlighting the social norms leading to cigarette and hookah smoking may help policy makers develop comprehensive interventions to prevent smoking among adolescents.   Keywords: Cigarette, Hookah, Smoking, Social Norm