Smoking behaviors among Middle Eastern college women in the United States

Abstract

Objective: to examine factors associated with cigarette and hookah smoking among Middle Eastern (ME) Arab college women. Participants: 406 adult women of ME Arabic background, currently enrolled in or recently graduated from a US college. Methods: a cross-sectional design, using an anonymous online survey of demographic characteristics, sociocultural factors, and access to health care factors. Data analysis included regression model to identify predictors of smoking behaviors. Results: Smoking rates were 21% and 19% for cigarette and hookah smoking. Cigarette smoking was higher with having liberal attitudes toward sexuality and lower among those having a healthcare provider. Hookah smoking was higher among students who are Muslim, involved in student organizations, have higher acculturation-heritage levels, and have more liberal attitudes toward women. Hookah smoking was lower among students born in the US, attending college part-time, and having higher religiosity levels. Conclusions: The study findings have several implications for interventions to address smoking behaviors among ME Arab college women through community organizations and within college campuses.

Keywords:

• College women
• health behaviors
• immigrant women
• Middle Eastern Arab
• smoking

Conflict of interest disclosure

The authors have no conflicts of interest to report. The authors confirm that the research presented in this article met the ethical guidelines, including adherence to the legal requirements, of the USA and received approval from the Institutional Review Board of Rutgers University.

Additional information

Funding

This work featured in this article was partially funded by Rutgers School of Nursing.