Protective factors of substance use in youth subcultures

Youth subcultures, characterized by a distinctive lifestyle, music preference, shared values and behaviors, are associated with substance use. The aim of this study was to explore whether protective factors such as parental monitoring, parental bonding and parental substance abstinence affect the association between subculture affiliation and adolescents' substance use. We used data from 15-year-old elementary school pupils (N = 1380; mean age = 15.47; response 79.5%) who participated in the Health Behaviour in School Aged Children 2009/2010 study. The association between subculture affiliation and substance use (smoking, drinking alcohol, drunkenness, and cannabis use) was adjusted for parental monitoring, parental bonding and parental substance abstinence for boys and girls separately using logistic regression. Adolescents affiliated to one of the selected youth subcultures were significantly more likely to use substances than other 15-years-olds, except for cannabis use in girls. Adjustment for parental monitoring reduced the association between subculture affiliation and substance use by 31-64% in girls and by 10-23% in boys. Adjustment for parental bonding and parental substance abstinence led to no changes or minor changes. After adjustments for protective factors, subculture affiliation remained significantly associated with substance use. The role of protective factors in adolescents with a subculture affiliation regarding substance use is rather limited. Our findings imply that preventive strategies targeting youth subcultures should take protective factors into account and be gender-specific. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Subculture affiliation Is associated with substance use of adolescents

Youth subcultures (hip-hop, punk, skinhead, techno scene, metal) are known for specific lifestyles, music preferences, shared values and behaviours of their members. The aim of this study was to assess the association between subculture affiliation and substance use (tobacco, alcohol and cannabis), and whether gender, family affluence and substance use by peers explain this association. Subculture affiliation was significantly associated with substance use (OR/95% CI: smoking 3.13/2.30-4.24; drinking 2.58/1.95-3.41; drunkenness 2.02/1.54-2.66; cannabis use 2.42/1.46-4.00). Only a part of this risk runs via gender, family affluence and peer substance use. Health promotion should be targeted in particular at adolescents with a subculture affiliation as they are at higher risk of substance use

Protective and risk factors of early sexual initiation in youth subcultures

Objectives To assess the association between subculture affiliation (Hip-hop, Technoscene, Metal, Punk, Skinheads) and early sexual initiation, and whether gender, family affluence, peer influence, lack of parental bonding and lack of parental monitoring explain this association. Methods We collected data on 15-year-old primary school pupils who participated in the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children 2009/2010 study. The association of subculture affiliation with early sexual initiation was adjusted for gender, family affluence, peer influence, lack of parental bonding and lack of parental monitoring in five consecutive models using logistic regression. Results Nearly 50% of the adolescents had a subculture affiliation. These youths were significantly more likely than other adolescents to have had sexual intercourse. Peer influence explained 49% of this association. Adding lack of parental bonding and lack of parental monitoring into the model weakened the association of subculture affiliation with early sexual initiation (20%), but this association remained statistically significant. Conclusion Youth subculture affiliation is strongly correlated with early sexual initiation. This association is mediated for a large part by peer influence and defective parental monitoring and bonding. Health promotion regarding early sexual initiation should therefore in particular target adolescents under strong influence of peers and with weak parental relationships

Does the influence of peers and parents on adolescents' drunkenness differ between Roma and non-Roma adolescents in Slovakia?

Background. Roma adolescents have been shown to use less alcohol than non-Roma adolescents. This could be due to the protective influences of peers and parents. Objective. The purpose of this study was to explore differences in the levels of peer and parental influence and their effects on drunkenness between Roma and non-Roma adolescents. Design. Data were obtained in Eastern Slovakia from 330 Roma (mean age = 14.50; 48.5% boys) and 722 non-Roma (mean age = 14.86; 53.2% boys) primary school pupils. We analysed data on adolescent drunkenness (being drunk at least once in the past four weeks), parental monitoring (parents knowing with whom their children are when they go out) and peer influence (best friend drinking alcohol at least once a week) using logistic regression. Results. Roma adolescents self-reported more parental monitoring and less peer influence when compared with their non-Roma counterparts (p<0.001). Less parental monitoring contributed to the probability of drunkenness only among girls (OR/CI: 4.17/2.00-8.69). This effect of parental monitoring was not modified by ethnicity. Peer influence affected drunkenness in both boys (OR/CI: 3.34/1.91-5.85) and girls (4.84/2.55-9.19), but there was no significant interaction of ethnicity with peer influence. Conclusion. While both boys and girls seem to be sensitive to peer influence, only girls appear to be sensitive to parental monitoring in regard to drunkenness. Stronger parental monitoring and weaker peer influence partially explain the lower prevalence of drunkenness among Roma adolescents, whereas the effects of these factors per level do not vary between Roma and non-Roma adolescents

Mortality in the Visegrad countries from the perspective of socioeconomic inequalities

OBJECTIVES: Large socioeconomic inequalities in health are still present in the Central Europe. The aim was to explore socioeconomic inequalities in mortality in Visegrad countries-the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia (V4), by three different socioeconomic indicators (unemployment, risk of poverty/social exclusion, education). The study was conducted within the H2020 Euro-Healthy project. METHODS: The associations between selected socioeconomic indicators and the standardised mortality rates by four main causes (mortality related to cancer, circulatory, respiratory and digestive system) in the economically active population aged 20-64 years in the 35 NUTS 2 level regions of the V4 in the period 2011-2013 were explored, using linear regression models. RESULTS: Lower education level was the most significant predictor of mortality in the V4. The lowest mortality rates by all causes of death were found in the regions of the Czech Republic, the highest in regions of Hungary. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the common origin, the pathways of the V4 countries in employment, poverty and education seem to be different, also having impact on health equity. Therefore, where you live in the V4 can significantly influence your health

Are barriers in accessing health services in the Roma population associated with worse health status among Roma?

The health of Roma has been found to be poorer than that of the majority population. The aim of this study was to explore the differences between Roma and non-Roma regarding perceived barriers in accessing health services. Furthermore, we aimed to assess the association between self-rated health status and Roma ethnicity and explore to what degree barriers in accessing health services explain this association. We used data from the cross-sectional HepaMeta study conducted in 2011 in Slovakia. The final sample comprised 452 Roma (mean age 34.7; 35.2 % men) and 403 (mean age 33.5; 45.9 % men) non-Roma respondents. Roma ethnicity was found to be significantly associated with poorer self-rated health status. A considerable part of this association can be explained by barriers in accessing health services as perceived by Roma. Worse health in Roma is partially mediated by worse access to health services, apart from a large educational gap between Roma living in settlements and the majority population. Interventions should focus not only on health literacy among Roma but also on the health care system and health care professionals