This study examines the contextual factors influencing polytobacco use behavior, or the concurrent use of two or more forms of tobacco, among young adult South Asians. Fifteen in-depth and qualitative case studies of South Asian college students were conducted in order to illuminate and understand the intrapersonal, social, cultural, and environmental determinants of polytobacco use. Results from the study highlight the dynamic and diverse nature of tobacco use, as patterns of consumption were found to be profoundly influenced and differentially distributed across lines of gender, socioeconomic status, age, nationality, situational context, and ethnic identity. Participants used two to five forms of tobacco, with 60% using more than two. In addition to cigarettes, several alternative tobacco forms, predominantly hookah, spliffs, and dokha, emerged as popular modes of tobacco consumption among this population. South Asian college students use multiple products intermittently in community settings, where use is normalized as a component of a social activity. The current cigarette-centered model for tobacco control must be adjusted to account for the variety of tobacco forms now accessible to and utilized by young adult South Asians, whose choice of product and frequency of usage is guided by the contextual factors identified in the case studies. Tobacco intervention efforts and cessation programs must develop cultural sensitivity that is attuned and responsive to unique patterns of polytobacco use in order to effectively combat the current tobacco epidemic.

Dissertation (Ph.D.)--University of South Florida, 2007. / Title from PDF of title page. Document formatted into pages; contains 206 pages. Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Sydney, 2007. / Title from title screen (viewed Apr. 8, 2009) Degree awarded 2007; thesis submitted 2006. Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Philosophy to the Dept. of Modern Greek, Faculty of Arts. Includes bibliographical references. Also available in print form.

Thesis (M.A.)--Texas State University--San Marcos, 2008. / Vita. Appendix: leaves 90-93. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 94-99). Also available on microfilm.

Thesis (MA (Hons))--Macquarie University, Division of Humanities, Department of English, 2006. / The original thesis contains the novel "Stranger, I" as an integral part of the thesis. However this novel has been omitted in this digital copy. Bibliography: p. 93-97.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Illinois State University, 2004. / Title from title page screen, viewed Oct. 15, 2004. Dissertation Committee: Jan Susina (chair), Christopher Breu, Sally E. Parry. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 176-181) and abstract. Also available in print.

Thesis (M.A.)--University of North Carolina at Wilmington, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves: [48]-49)

Thesis (M.A.)--Brigham Young University. Dept. of English, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 84-101).

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Alabama at Birmingham, 2009. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on Sept. 4, 2009). Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ed. D.)--University of Houston, 1989. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 93-95).