Naslov
Psychosocial correlates of substance use in adolescence: A cross-national study in six European countries

Autori
Kokkevi, Anna ; Richardson, Clive ; Florescu, Silvia ; Kuzman, Marina ; Stergar, Eva

Izvornik
Drug and Alcohol Dependence (0376-8716) 86 (2006), 1; 67-74

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, članak, znanstveni

Ključne riječi
tobacco; alcohol; illegal drug use; psychoactive correlates; adolescents; school survey; cross-national European study
(adolescents; school survey; cross-national European study)

Sažetak
Aims: to examine the psychosocial correlates of substance use among adolescents in six European countries. Design: Cross-sectional school population study (ESPAD) based on standardized methodological procedures. Setting: High schools in six European countries: Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Romania, Slovenia and UK. Participants: Representative sample of a total sample of 16, 445 high school students whose 16th birthday fell in the year of data collection. Measurements: Anonymous self-administered questionnaire. Self-reported substance use was measured by core items on tobacco, alcohol and marijuana and any illegal drugs use. Psychosocial correlates included scales of self-esteem, depression, antisocial behavior and items pertaining to family, school and peers. Findings: Logistic regression analysis for each potential correlate adjusted for country, taking into account the cluster sample, showed statistically significant association with each substance use variable separately, in almost every case. Particularly strong associations were found between smoking and going out most evening and having many friends who smoke, while cannabis and illegal drugs were strongly correlated with having friends and older siblings using these substances. The self-esteem scale score was not correlated with substance use. Anomie and antisocial behavior were more strongly associated than depression with substance use. In the case of depression, anomie and most of the other items examined, associations were stronger for girls than for boys. Conclusion: The present cross-national study identified correlates of legal and illegal substance use which extend outside specific countries, providing grounds to believe that they can be generalized. They provide evidence for the need to address both the use of the gateway drugs and deviant behavior in conjunction with environment risk factors when designing and implementing preventive intervention in schools.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Javno zdravstvo i zdravstvena zaštita

POVEZANOST RADA