A Sociological Study on Hookah Consumption Among the Youth of Shiraz

Background: Tobacco smoking is a major anticipated risk factor that causes serious health challenges. In recent decades, hookah consumption has grown rapidly among adolescents and the youth around the world and it is currently considered a global public health problem. Therefore, the present study aims at investigating hookah consumption and identifying related socio-cultural factors.Materials and Methods: This study used a quantitative method and the survey technique. Using multi-stage stratified sampling, ۶۰۰ young subjects aged ۱۸-۲۹ were studied in the city of Shiraz. William Cockerham’s health lifestyles model was used as the theoretical framework for this study and the data were analyzed using SPSS.Results: The findings of this study indicated that ۴۴.۲% of the respondents have a history of hookah use and there is a statistically significant relationship between hookah use and age, gender, marital status, education, social belonging, social capital, health-related cultural capital, and general self-efficacy.Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, it seems that using coherent educational and culture-building programs and, thus, the promotion of social capital, health-related cultural capital, and general self-efficacy, the hookah consumption rate can be reduced among the youth.

Keywords:

Hookah , Social capital , Cultural capital , Self-efficacy