Abstract
Hubbly bubbly use has become an increasingly popular trend among young people worldwide, including university students. Despite evidence of its harmful health effects, many young people perceive hubbly bubbly as a safer alternative to cigarette smoking. While several studies have examined the prevalence and health risks of hubbly bubbly use, research focusing on students’ intentions to engage in this behaviour remains limited, particularly within the South African context. Guided by the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB), this study aimed to assess undergraduate students’ knowledge, attitudes, and intentions towards hubbly bubbly use. The study examined how attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control, and their associated behavioural, normative, and control beliefs influence students’ intentions.
A quantitative, cross-sectional design was employed. A total of 808 students participated, with 658 completing the full questionnaire. Data were collected on students’ demographic characteristics, hubbly bubbly use patterns, and TPB constructs, and analysed using SPSS (version 30). Descriptive statistics summarised participants’ demographic information and hubbly bubbly use, while correlation and multiple regression analyses examined associations between TPB variables and behavioural intentions.
Results indicated that 74.9% of participants had tried hubbly bubbly. Correlation analysis showed significant positive relationship between TPB constructs and intention to use hubbly bubbly. Regression analysis further revealed that positive attitudes and subjective norms were independent predictors of intention while perceived behavioural control was not. These findings contribute to understanding the determinants of hubbly bubbly use among university students and underscore the need for targeted interventions that address positive attitudes and social norms within this population.