Hookah pipe use among adolescents
- info822671
- Jul 12, 2023
- 2 min read
Updated: Mar 6
This is a summary of the health concerns and contributory factors cited in the article, Zainab Kader, Rik Crutzen & Nicolette Roman | (2020) Intervention to reduce adolescent hookah pipe use and satisfy basic psychological needs, Cogent Psychology, 7:1, 1782099, DOI: 10.1080/23311908.2020.1782099
Hookah Pipe Use: A Major Public Health Concern for Adolescents
Hookah pipe use poses a significant threat to the physical and mental health of adolescents (Currie & Bray, 2019; Kintz et al., 2020). This mechanism, primarily used for tobacco consumption, has raised concerns within the public health domain (World Health Organization [WHO], 2015). The smoking of hookah pipes is highly hazardous due to the presence of toxic substances, which have been linked to various health issues such as lung and heart disease, increased lung inflammation, bronchitis, emphysema, elevated heart rate and blood pressure, periodontal disease, addiction, decreased exercise capacity, and even cancer (WHO, 2015; Mays et al., 2016; Bashirian et al., 2019).
Nicotine Addiction and Health Risks
Hookah pipe smoking exposes adolescents to nicotine, a highly addictive and dangerous substance that triggers the rapid release of adrenaline from the adrenal cortex (Moghaddam et al., 2019). This release leads to alarming symptoms, including shortness of breath, elevated blood pressure, heart rate, and blood sugar levels. Nicotine toxicity can also result in nausea, sweating, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, and abdominal pain (Moghaddam et al., 2019).
Factors Influencing Adolescent Hookah Pipe Smoking
Despite the associated risks, hookah pipe smoking remains popular among teens. Flavored tobacco, social acceptability, the absence of specific policies and regulations, online promotion through the Internet and social media, and misconceptions about its harmlessness contribute to its widespread use (WHO, 2015; Pashaeypoor et al., 2019). Scholars, such as Lopez et al. (2017), advocate for targeted interventions to prevent and control teenage hookah pipe smoking, given its rapid global spread.
Concerns in South Africa
High Prevalence of Hookah Pipe Smoking Among South African Adolescents
South Africa is particularly affected by the prevalence of hookah pipe smoking among teens. Reddy et al. (2015) reported that 20.1% of adults in South Africa engage in hookah pipe smoking. Additionally, nearly two-thirds of university students in the Western Cape reported having tried hookah smoking (Kruger et al., 2016). Alarmingly, 21% of school learners were identified as current hookah smokers, with 6.8% initiating smoking before the age of 10 (Reddy et al., 2015).
Psychological Needs and Hookah Pipe Smoking
Satisfying Basic Psychological Needs: A Motivation for Adolescent Hookah Pipe Smoking
An intriguing hypothesis suggests that teens are motivated to smoke hookah pipes as a means to satisfy their basic psychological needs (Ryan & Deci, 2017). Smoking hookah provides a sense of autonomy, as teenagers believe they are making a personal choice. They also experience a feeling of competence by mastering smoke tricks and fulfil their need for relatedness by socializing with friends while smoking.
Influence of the School, Community, and Family Environment
The school, community, and family environments play a significant role in shaping adolescent hookah pipe use. These contexts can either condone or condemn the behaviour, as well as satisfy or hinder the fulfillment of psychological needs (Ryan & Deci, 2017). When needs are not adequately met within these environments, adolescents may seek alternative avenues for need fulfilment, such as through hookah pipe smoking.
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