engleski

Drinking patterns in Croatian adolescents

Alcohol drinking is in Croatia socially acceptable and connected to the mostsocial and family events. The positive expectation from alcohol drinking is among young people more prominent than the perception of the possible risk consequences. In the latest HBSC survey drinking pattern (age of first drinking and getting drunk and frequency of drinking) and connection to the contextual variables (smoking, marijuana use, psychosomatic symptoms, aggressive behaviour, bullying, life and health satisfaction, school pressure, school achievement, peer class support and sexual behaviour) were analysed. Spearman's correlation and t-test analyses were used. Age of the first drinking and getting drunk is connected to the regular smoking and marijuana use (t-test, p<0.001, CI95%), more psychosomatic symptoms (t-test, p=0.014, CI95%), less satisfacion with health and life, lower school achievment, more feeling of school pressure (t-test, p<0.001, CI95%). Alcohol drinking is connected to aggressive behaviour, physical fights and bullying others (Spearman's rho p<0.001). Boys and girls who drink more have earlier sexual experience and use condom less often (t-test, p<0.001, CI95%). Risk behaviour connected to alcohol drinkingin youth is very complex, indicating that for appropriate preventive activities the joint efforts are needed. relying to the school educational programmes is not sufficient, the strong social support, including law enforcement and selling and use surveillance is necessary, otherwise there will be no expected results.

drinking ; adolescents ; risk factors

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