Family Matters: The Role Of Family In Adolescent Hookah Pipe Use And Satisfaction Of Basic Psychological Needs

The hookah pipe is a mechanism used to smoke legal and illegal substances. Hookah pipe smoking negatively impacts adolescents’ opportunities to prosper because of its health consequences, potential for addiction and risk to be a gateway substance. The use of the hookah pipe is on the rise and families contribute to the choices made by adolescents. This chapter is a study of the role played by families in adolescents decision to smoke the hookah pipe. Drawing on Self-Determination Theory (SDT), the study collected both quantitative and qualitative data from adolescents in the Western Cape, South Africa. Hookah pipe users reported no differences between their families’ permissiveness and sociability. They also reported no difference in terms of their family conflict and family satisfaction. This finding was contradicted when users explained that they witnessed more family violence, experienced trauma caused by family members and had less family involvement compared non-users. Hookah pipe users have more family members that use various types of substances compared to hookah pipe non-users. Parents of hookah pipe users are more accepting of this smoking device in the home and it is more common that the hookah pipe is used as a method for socialising amongst hookah pipe smokers. Moreover, family behaviour and attitudes contribute to the choice to smoke or not smoke the hookah pipe. There is a need for future research, policy and intervention strategies, to include the family when intervening to reduce the use of the hookah pipe among adolescents. A reduction of hookah pipe use may increase opportunities for adolescents to excel.