Prevalence of smoking and its association with health-related behaviours among Iranian university students: a large-scale study

Abstract

Background: The prevalence of smoking and contributing factors among Iranian university students has been paid little attention. Aims: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of smoking in Iranian university students and its association with health-related behaviours. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on a sample of 82 806 Iranian university students admitted in 2012-2013. Information on demographic characteristics and health-related behaviours, including physical activity, sleep pattern, use of electronic devices and dietary habits, were collected using a standardized questionnaire. Weight and height were measured using a standard protocol and body mass index calculated. Smokers were defined as students who smoked ≥ 1 cigarette per week. Results: Smoking was prevalent among 6.0% of university students (males 6.6%, females 5.6%). Moderate physical activity was inversely associated with odds of smoking. A significant positive association was also found between obesity and odds of being a smoker. Higher intake of fruits and dairy products were associated with lower odds of smoking. However, intake of vegetables, fast foods and carbonated beverages was positively associated with smoking. Breakfast consumption was also associated with greater odds of being a smoker. Conclusions: Demographic characteristics and health-related behaviours, including marital status, occupation, economic status, sleep pattern, physical activity, use of electronic devices and dietary intake, were significantly associated with smoking.

Psychometric Properties of the Healthy Lifestyle Questionnaire for Ecuadorian University Students (EVS-EUE)

“…As far as tobacco consumption and physical activity are concerned, in this study, no significant relationships were found. This disagrees with the results of Carballo-Fazanes et al [66], who found that smoker students present lower levels of physical activity, that is, there is an inverse association [67], and that smoking, among other aspects, is a suboptimal predictor of physical activity [4]; however, there are studies that indicate that this relationship is not always significant in this group, since it may be affected by other variable, such as the level of education and the performance of national prevention programs in these populations during the studies [68].…”

Cigarette Smoking among Medical Students from the Western Balkan

“…Similar to our research, Mansouri et al [ 33 ], in a study conducted in Iran, indicate that there is no significant correlation between the BMI and the smoking status of medical students. However, according to the results by Rabanales-Sotos et al [ 12 ] conducted in Peru, and Aldahash et al [ 34 ] conducted in Saudi Arabia, BMI does have a correlation with smoking status of medical students.…”

“…A study conducted by Mansouri et al [ 33 ] among students at 22 universities in Iran, similar to our study, indicates that the different levels of physical activity are not associated with students’ smoking status. However, Mensouri et al [ 33 ] emphasise that the results of the Iranian study involving only medical students show that the students who are smokers are mainly physically inactive, which is not in agreement with the results of our study, stating that there is no correlation between physical activity and medical students’ smoking status. The results of a study by Tien Nam et al [ 26 ] conducted in Vietnam indicate that physically active students who go in for sports have more social interactions with their peers, which sometimes leads to peer pressure to start smoking and become smokers.…”

“…Mansouri et al [ 33 ] in their study conducted in Iran, as well as Rabanales-Sotos et al [ 12 ] in a study conducted in Peru, indicate that the students with excessive body mass or suffering from obesity are more likely to smoke in relation to the students who are normal weight and the ones who are underweight, which is not in agrement with the result of our study that show that BMI was not a statistically significant predictor of the smoking status of medical students.…”

“…According to the Torchyan et al [ 44 ] study conducted in Saudi Arabia, medical students who are highly physically active are more likely to be smokers, and a possible reason is that they, owing to sports, have more social interactions with people from their surroundings, which can lead to peer pressure to try cigarette smoking and it is not uncommon for them to become smokers. However, a study by Mansouri et al [ 33 ], conducted in Iran, indicates that students who are not physically active on a regular basis are more likely to become smokers. The results of the aforementioned studies do not correspond with our research that shows that the level of physical activity among medical students did not have a statistically significant influence on their smoking status.…”