Selected health risk behaviors as a problem among contemporary youth from rural environment

Katarzyna Sygit
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Uniwersytet Szczeciński, Wydział Kultury Fizycznej i Promocji Zdrowia, Zakład Promocji Zdrowia, Szczecin, Polska

Abstract

Introduction: Engaging in risky behaviors is typical amongst adolescents. Psychoactive substances, i.e. nicotine, alcohol and other stimulants constitute one of the greatest threats to health of children and young people.

Aim: The purpose of this article is to present the issue of psychoactive substances abuse, such as tobacco and alcoholic beverages, by adolescents from rural environment.

Material and methods: Research encompassed a representative population of adolescents aged 15-19 from rural areas (total of 984 subjects) as well as their parents from a randomly selected poviat [Polish administrative unit, similar to district] in the West-Pomeranian voivodship. Author’s own questionnaires (surveys) were used. The information obtained from questionnaires were encoded and analyzed with a computer. The statistical analysis of correlations included Pearson’s chi-squared test, Cramér’s V and Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient.

Results: The research suggested that a significant number of adolescents smoke tobacco and drink alcohol. Smoking depends on the sex of subjects: boys are more likely to smoke (15.52%) than girls (10.62%). As for alcohol, the opposite tendency was observed. Girls drink more frequently (59.12%) than boys (54.87%). A correlation between alcohol consumption and parents’ education was observed (the more educated parents, the higher alcohol consumption – 67.35%); another observable dependency was noted between financial situation of the household/income and alcohol (the higher income per family member, the higher alcohol consumption – 23.76%).

Conclusions: A large proportion of adolescents from rural environment use psychoactive substances (such as tobacco and alcohol). The research identified correlations between this behavior and selected descriptive variables, such as: sex, parents’ education, financial situation of the household and income per family member.

 

Cite

Sygit K. Selected health risk behaviors as a problem among contemporary youth from rural environment. Prz Med Uniw Rzesz Inst Leków 2015; 13 (2): 153–164. doi: 10.15584/przmed.2015.2.8

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