Background & objectives: The cigarette and water pipe smoking is a public health problem. Many studies have been performed on prevalence of cigarette and water pipe smoking and its related factors. But in few studies the frequency and causes of tendency to cigarette and water pipe smoking among physical education students have been discussed. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the frequency and causes of tendency to cigarette and water pipe smoking in male and female physical education students in University of Kurdistan.

Methods: This descriptive and cross-sectional study was done on physical education students of the University of Kurdistan (128 male and 160 female) by standard questionnaire of PDUQ (Prevalence of Drug Use Questionnaire) using stratified random sampling method in 2013-2014 academic year. Data analysis was done by descriptive and inferential statistics including Kolmogorov–Smirnov and T tests at significance level of p<0.05 using SPSS version 17.

Results: Results showed that the respective rates of cigarette and water pipe consumption were 25 and 17.2 % for male and 11.25 and 7.5% for female students. In addition cigarette and water pipe smoking rates were significantly higher in male than female students (p<0.001). The most important causes of proneness to cigarette and water pipe smoking in male and female students were sincerely relationships with friends who were smoker and recreation and fun, respectively.

Conclusion: The most important causes of proneness to cigarette and water pipe smoking in male and female students were identified as sincerely relationships with friends who were smoker and recreation and fun, respectively. Therefore, implementing educational programs and scientific field visits at university level seems necessary in order to prevent cigarette and water pipe smoking.