Do young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET) have more health problems than their peers? A cross-sectional study among Norwegian adolescents

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The influence of behavioural and health problems on alcohol and drug use in late adolescence - a follow up study of 2 399 young Norwegians

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Both early alcohol debut, behavioural and health problems are reported to enhance adolescence substance use. This prospective study investigate the influence of behavioural and health problems on adolescents' alcohol and drug use.</p> <p>Method</p> <p>Prospective population based cohort study of 2 399 adolescents attending the Young-HUNT study, aged 13-15 at baseline in 1995/97, and 17-19 at follow-up 4 years later. Exposure variables were self reported conduct problems, attention problems, anxiety and depressive symptoms, and muscular pain and tension. Outcome variables at follow-up were frequent alcohol use and initiation of drug use. Associations were estimated by logistic regression models, influence of gender and drinking status at baseline were controlled for by stratification.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>At follow-up 19% of the students drank alcohol once a week or more frequently. Baseline conduct problems (OR 2.2, CI 1.7-3.0) and attention problems (OR 1.5, CI 1.2-2.0) increased the risk for frequent alcohol use at follow-up in the total population. Girls who had experienced alcohol-intoxications at baseline showed strong association between baseline problems and frequent alcohol use at follow-up. Conduct problems (OR 2.5, CI 1.3-4.8), attention problems (OR 2.1, CI 1.2-3.4), anxiety/depressive symptoms (OR 1.9, CI 1.1-3.1) and muscular pain and tension (OR 1.7, CI 1.0-2.9) all were associated with frequent alcohol use among early intoxicated girls.</p> <p>14% of the students had tried cannabis or other drugs at follow-up. Conduct problems at baseline increased the odds for drug use (OR 2.6, CI 1.9-3.6). Any alcohol intoxications at baseline, predicted both frequent alcohol use (boys OR 3.6, CI 2.4-5.2; girls OR 2.8, CI 1.9-4.1), and illegal drug use (boys OR 4.7; CI 3.2-7.0, girls OR 7.7, CI 5.2-11.5) within follow-up.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Conduct problems in high-school more than doubles the risk for both frequent alcohol use and initiation of drug use later in adolescence. The combination of health problems and alcohol intoxication in early adolescence was closely associated with more frequent drinking later in adolescence among girls.</p> <p>Overall, early alcohol intoxication was closely associated with both frequent alcohol use and drug use at follow up in both genders</p

Parental alcohol intoxication and adverse health outcomes among offspring. A 4-year follow up HUNT study among 2399 Norwegian adolescents

This study aimed to investigate whether experience of parental alcohol intoxication was associated with adverse health outcomes among adolescents four years later. A population-based Norwegian cohort study of 2399 adolescents who participated in the Young-HUNT1 Survey 1995–97 (T1, 13–15 years old) was followed up four years later (T2) in 2000 (Young-HUNT2, 17–19 years old). Measures were based on adolescent self-report of exposure to parental alcohol intoxication, self-rated general health, mental distress (SCL-5) and lifetime hospital admission. Multivariable logistic regression analyses, adjusted for gender, age and parental education were applied. Results show that half of the adolescents (51%) had seen parents intoxicated at age 13–15 years. Four years later, those who had reported parental alcohol intoxication at T1 had increased odds of admission to hospital with odds ratios ranging from OR1.3; CI 1.0–1.7 to OR 2.2; CI 1.3–3.9, poorer self-rated health (odds ratio ranging from 1.8;1.2–2.6 to 2.0;1.1–3.7) and more mental distress (odds ratio ranging from 1.7;1.1–2.5 to 1.9;1.0–3.6). Furthermore, the increased frequency of experience of parental alcohol intoxication are associated with higher prevalence of admission to hospital and mental distress and lower levels of self-rated health. Findings from this large, representative population of Norwegian adolescents indicate that adverse health outcomes among adolescents in a general population are related to relatively common heavy drinking behaviours among parents

Do young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET) have more health problems than their peers? A cross-sectional study among Norwegian adolescents

Objectives: An increasing proportion of young Norwegians are categorised as too ill to attend upper secondary education, and poor physical and mental health may reduce their opportunities to return to school or find paid employment. This study examined the differences in self-perceived health, mental health, and prevalence of pain between Norwegian adolescents, who are not in education, employment or training (NEET) compared to adolescents who attend upper secondary school (age 16-21 years). Design: Cross-sectional study. Participants and setting: A total of 96 NEET youth and 384 age and gender matched adolescents attending upper secondary school in the south of Norway participated in the study. Main outcome measures: Self-perceived health, mental health and pain. Results: Multivariable analyses, adjusted for parental education, showed that more NEET girls reported poor self-perceived health (odds ratio 3.2; 95% CI 1.4–7.5) and poor mental health (2.4;1.0–5.2) when compared to girls who were attending school. The results showed no difference in the prevalence of various types of pain between girls who were attending or not attending school, and among boys the results showed no differences in health problems assessed in this study. Conclusion: The study indicates that NEET girls have poorer self-perceived health and poorer mental health when compared to girls who are attending upper secondary school. It will be essential to identify the causes of these health problems. This may provide a basis for specially adapted measures that could help more people in the target group return to school or paid employment

Do young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET) have more health problems than their peers? A cross-sectional study among Norwegian adolescents

Objectives: An increasing proportion of young Norwegians are categorised as too ill to attend upper secondary education, and poor physical and mental health may reduce their opportunities to return to school or find paid employment. This study examined the differences in self-perceived health, mental health, and prevalence of pain between Norwegian adolescents, who are not in education, employment or training (NEET) compared to adolescents who attend upper secondary school (age 16-21 years). Design: Cross-sectional study. Participants and setting: A total of 96 NEET youth and 384 age and gender matched adolescents attending upper secondary school in the south of Norway participated in the study. Main outcome measures: Self-perceived health, mental health and pain. Results: Multivariable analyses, adjusted for parental education, showed that more NEET girls reported poor self-perceived health (odds ratio 3.2; 95% CI 1.4–7.5) and poor mental health (2.4;1.0–5.2) when compared to girls who were attending school. The results showed no difference in the prevalence of various types of pain between girls who were attending or not attending school, and among boys the results showed no differences in health problems assessed in this study. Conclusion: The study indicates that NEET girls have poorer self-perceived health and poorer mental health when compared to girls who are attending upper secondary school. It will be essential to identify the causes of these health problems. This may provide a basis for specially adapted measures that could help more people in the target group return to school or paid employment

Associations between parental alcohol problems in childhood and adversities during childhood and later adulthood: a cross-sectional study of 28047 adults from the general population

Abstract Background Adverse childhood experiences (ACE) are related to adverse physical and mental health outcomes. However, few larger studies based on a general population sample with age groups ranging from young adults to elderly have investigated whether parental alcohol problems increase the risk of offspring subjective reports of ACE both during childhood and current adult adversities. The purpose of this study was to examine the associations between parental alcohol problems and adversities during childhood and later in adulthood. Methods The 28,047 respondents were adults (> 18 years old) from the general population who participated in the Norwegian Counties Public Health Survey. The study had a cross-sectional design and included respondents’ evaluations of childhood experiences and current adult adversities. The short version of the Children of Alcoholics Screening Test (CAST-6, cut-off ≥3) measured parental alcohol problems. Multivariable logistic regression was adjusted for gender, age, and education. Results Growing up with parental alcohol problems strongly increased the risk of experiencing a dysfunctional family environment during childhood (odds ratio [OR] 6.84; 95% confidence interval [CI] 6.36–7.36), perceiving childhood as difficult (OR 5.01; 95% CI 4.58–5.49), and reporting a lack of support from a trusted adult (OR 3.07; 95% CI 2.86–3.29). Parental alcohol problems were associated with a modestly increased risk of harmful alcohol use (OR 1.38; 95% CI 1.29–1.48), but the association with struggling with bad memories was strong (OR 4.56; 95% CI 4.17–4.98). Conclusions Parental alcohol problems increased the risk of offspring experiencing adversities during both childhood and adulthood. Providing supportive services to these children and their families and addressing this issue as part of treatment is important to prevent alcohol related harm