engleski

Self esteem and risky behaviours in first year medical Students university of Zagreb in Croatia

Background and aim: The aim of this study was to assess presence of risky behaviour in first year medical students regarding level of self-esteem. Subjects and Methods: We analyzed data of 262 first year medical students (70% females). Data was collected by questionnaire and analyzed by descriptive statistics. Results: Very high self-esteem (Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale) had only female (N = 104) and low had only male students (N = three). Normal range of self-esteem had 74 male and 79 female students. Significantly more male students smoked experimentally than female (33. vs. 22, P = 0.04) whereas more female than male students smoked every day (13 vs. eight, p = 0.005). Significantly more male than female students drank alcohol (63 vs. 39, P < 0.001). Female students with high self-esteem smoked significantly less than those with normal (eight vs. 13, P = 0.013). Three or more sexual partners in one year had two female students with high and none with normal self-esteem. Male were signifi-cantly more sexually active than female students (48 vs. 36, p = 0.009) and had more than one sexual partner (17 vs. four, P = 0.007). Conclusion: Results of this study show difference of risky behaviour between sexes within same selfesteem level and between levels of self esteem separately for male and female students. The results imply that screenings of risky behaviour and mental health in student popu-lation should be provided within health services available for students and therefore promotion of healthy life style.

students; self-esteem; risk behaviour; life stlye

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