Associations of Mental Health Problems With Waterpipe Tobacco and Cigarette Smoking Among College Students

Abstract

Associations between the emerging trend of waterpipe tobacco smoking and mental health among college students have not been sufficiently explored. This study analyzed data collected from 152 academic institutions that participated in the National College Health Assessment during the 2008–2009 academic year to examine associations between mental health and waterpipe tobacco smoking among college students (N = 100,891). For comparison, cigarette smoking was also examined. Associations with mental health variables were very strong for cigarette smoking but only moderate for waterpipe smoking. Study implications and limitations are noted.

RÉSUMÉ

Associations des problèmes de santé mentale et de tabac narguilé et la cigarette chez les étudiants

Les associations entre la nouvelle tendance de fumer le narguilé et la santé mentale chez les étudiants n'ont pas été suffisamment explorées. Cette étude a analysé les données recueillies auprès de 152 institutions universitaires qui ont participé à l’évaluation de “National College Health Assessment” au cours de l'année scolaire 2008–2009 pour examiner les associations entre la santé mentale et l'utilisation du narguilé chez les étudiants (N = 100 891). A titre de comparaison, la consommation de cigarettes a également été examinée. Les effets de ces consommations sur la santé mentale ont été très importants chez les consommateurs de cigarettes mais seulement modérés chez les fumeurs de narguilé. Les implications de l’étude et ses limites sont indiquées. Le financement a été fourni par le NCI Grant R01-CA140150.

RESUMEN

Asociaciones de problemas de salud mental con el tabaco en narguile y el tabaquismo entre los estudiantes universitarios

Las asociaciones entre la tendencia emergente del consumo de tabaco en narguile y la salud mental entre los estudiantes universitarios no han sido exploradas suficientemente. En este estudio se analizó datos collecionados de 152 instituciones académicas que participarón en el Estudio de Colegio Nacional de Salud durante el año académico 2008–2009 para examinar las asociaciones entre la salud mental y el consumo de tabaco en narguile entre los estudiantes universitarios (N = 100,891). Para la comparación, el fumar de cigarrillos también fue examinado. Las asociaciones con las variables de salud mental fueron muy fuertes para el fumar de cigarrillos, pero sólo moderado para el fumar de tabaco en narguile. Las implicaciones y limitaciones del estudio se observan. La financiación fue proporcionada por una beca del NCI R01-CA140150.

Keywords :

• cigarette smoking
• college students
• tobacco use
• waterpipe smoking

Notes

1 The reader is reminded that the concepts of “risk factors”, posited “vulnerability” as well as “protective factors”, are often noted in the literature, without adequately noting their dimensions

(linear, non-linear; rates of development; anchoring or integration, cessation, etc.), their “demands”, the critical necessary conditions (endogenously as well as exogenously; from a micro to a meso to a macro level) which are necessary for either of them to operate (begin, continue, become anchored and integrate, change as de facto realities change, cease, etc.) or not to and whether their underpinnings are theory-driven, empirically-based, individual and/or systemic stake holder- bound, based upon “principles of faith”, historical observation, precedents and traditions that accumulate over time, conventional wisdom, perceptual and judgmental constraints, “transient public opinion.” or what. This is necessary to consider and to clarify if these term are not to remain as yet additional shibboleth in a field of many stereotypes, tradition-driven activities, “principles of faith” and stakeholder objectives. Editor's note.

2 The reader is referred to Hills's criteria which were developed in order to help assist researchers and clinicians determine if risk factors were causes of a particular disease or outcomes or merely associated. (Hill, A. B. (1965). The environment and disease: associations or causation? Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine 58: 295–300.). Editor's note.