Suchergebnisse

AbstractThere are disparities in health outcomes between youth from higher and lower socioeconomic backgrounds, and girls are especially vulnerable to changes in health‐related behaviours as they develop. Therefore, this study explored how girls from disadvantaged communities in Dublin, Ireland, make sense of 'being healthy.' A phenomenological qualitative design was implemented. Three focus groups were conducted (n = 22, 10–12 years) and data were analysed using thematic analysis. Food and physical appearance featured prominently within the girls' definitions of health. Girls and their families from low‐SES backgrounds may experience more difficulties with time scarcity as well as environmental barriers to a healthy lifestyle.

This study reports the results of a comparative survey with representative samples of 3,386 school attending youths, most of whom were 15 years of age and residing in five European cities. We found significant but low correlations between the type of family structure (intact family, model family, dual career houshold, single mother) and five forms of deviant behavior (tobacco smoking, cannabis use, delinquency, general drug use and a composite risk behavior scale). These correlations will be displaced by very high correlations with the level of drug using friends/peers. A number of differences were found between the youth from different cities in relation to these concerns. Results indicate differences among the cities in terms of the youths' relationships with drug use/deviance/risky behavior and family structure, gender role, and peer group behavior. This suggests that the cultural meanings associated with family, gender role, peer group, and risk behavior influence deviant outcomes.

This international study investigates factors underlying international variations in rates of youth drug use among representative samples of 15-year-olds in five cities (Bremen, n = 871; Dublin, n = 983; Groningen, n = 487; Newcastle upon Tyne, n = 880; Rome, n = 666). It reveals a higher level of drug use in English-speaking compared to continental populations. Drug use was associated with peer, family and individual factors. Logistic regression showed that family structure and sport were associated with lower rates and delinquent behaviour with higher rates of drug use in all cities and among males and females. Among males, city of residence also independently predicted drug use. The effect of traditional families and studiousness in reducing drug use was most evident for male drug use in low-use cities: higher rates of use in English-speaking cities appear partially due to the drug use of low-risk males.