Original scientific paper
Perceived Exposure to Substance Use and Risk-taking Behavior in Early Adolescence: Cross-sectional Study
Petar Bezinović
; Institute for Social Research, Zagreb, Croatia
Đulija Malatestinić
; Teaching Institute of Public Health of Primorsko-Goranska County, Rijeka University School of Medicine, Croatia
Abstract
Aim To examine the relation between perceived exposure to
parents, siblings, and peers’ substance use and self-reported
substance consumption among early adolescents in Primorskogoranska
county, Croatia, and between perceived exposure to
substance use and risk-taking behaviors such as going out late
at night, gathering at secluded places, skipping school, and gambling.
Method A self-reported cross-sectional survey was conducted in
2007 among 2219 eight-grade (14-year old) pupils in elementary
schools in Primorsko-goranska county. Exposure to substance
use in their immediate social environment, self-reported consumption
of cigarettes, alcohol, inhalants, and marihuana, ways
of spending free time, and family and peer relationships were assessed.
Results There was a significant association between perceived
exposure to substance use and self-reported consumption
of cigarettes, alcohol, inhalants, and marihuana in both sexes
(P < 0.001). Pupils whose parents, siblings, and peers used substances
significantly more often developed the same behavioral
patterns. Level of exposure to substance use in the immediate
social environment had the strongest effect on experimenting
with smoking among girls (from 26.6% in low exposure to 76.2%
in high exposure group) and among boys (from 15.8% in low exposure
to 69.4% in high exposure); on regular everyday smoking
among girls (from 4.4% in low exposure to 45% in high exposure
group) and among boys (from 2.7% in low exposure to 36.7% in
high exposure group); on hard liquor consumption among girls
(from 25.1% in low exposure to 79.5% in high exposure group)
and among boys (from 28.1% in low exposure to 78.4% in high
exposure group), as well as on binge drinking among girls (from
10.9% in low exposure to 56.6% in high exposure group) and
among boys (from 15.5% in low exposure to 62.4% in high exposure
group). Girls and boys exposed to substance use engaged
more often in risk-taking and potentially delinquent behaviors
(F(2, 1180) = 166 502; P < 0.001, two-way ANOVA).
Conclusion High exposure to substance use in immediate social
environment and its great impact on substance use among early
adolescents indicate that there is a need for the introduction of
preventive programs that would reduce inappropriate behavior
among adolescents’ social models.
Keywords
early adolescence; exposure to substance use; risk behaviour; smoking; drinking behaviour
Hrčak ID:
38821
URI
Publication date:
15.4.2009.
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