Role of modeling in water-pipe use among adolescents

Audience: All of the experts in tobacco fields. Key Points: Most of the adult smokers start their smoking during their adolescence. Adolescents tend to have deeper relations with their friends and peer group and thereby, imitate each other's behavior more often. Nowadays, waterpipe use has become a recreational activity among adolescents, especially in the Middle East. This study was aimed at the evaluation of peer group effects on waterpipe use among Iranian adolescents. In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 536 adolescents aged 13 to 25, were randomly selected out of 20 main Municipality regions of Tehran. The subjects were then interviewed by skilled interviewers. In addition to the demographic characteristics, age of waterpipe use onset, the first people with whom waterpipe was used, more popular places for waterpipe use, favorite people with whom waterpipe is used, causes of waterpipe use, parents’ consent on waterpipe use by adolescents, adolescents’ knowledge on the harms of waterpipe use and tobacco smoking were questioned. The obtained data were then analyzed by SPSS software v.17. Educational Experience: Out of 536 adolescents, 230 (42/9%) had used waterpipe (137 (52/1%) males, 93 (34/3%) females). About 77% reported that their close friends use waterpipe. Also about 53% of adolescents using waterpipe stated that their close friends use waterpipe too. This study showed that there is a significant relationship between waterpipe use by adolescents and waterpipe use by their friends. Benefits: Increasing knowledge on tobacco smoking factors in adolescents and youth. Keywords: Adolescence; Peer group; Modeling; Waterpipe use.