Factors linked to tobacco smoking and alcohol drinkingof juveniles

Abstract

Background: Tobacco cigarettes and alcohol are the drugs of first choice of the youth. Many young people experience the consequences of smoking and drinking at an early age. This study aimed to explore the potential of self-control, parental monitoring, “prosocial†friends and certain ways of spending free time (playing computer games, reading and artistic activities) in explaining tobacco smoking and alcohol drinking of elementary school students. Methods: A representative sample of 872 (56.8% female) elementary school students (age M =13 years) was collected within the project aimed at school-based universal prevention. The respondents completed the Self-Control Scale and they were also asked to answer questions concerning parental control, friends and ways of spending their free time. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the data using experience with tobacco smoking and alcohol drinking as the dependent variables. Design: A cross-sectional design was used. Findings: Parental monitoring (p<0.001), self-control (p=0.001), having “prosocial†friends (p=0.16), spending free time by doing sports (p=0.048) or playing computer games (0.019) were all negatively associated to alcohol drinking of elementary school students. Smoking tobacco cigarettes seems only to be negatively associated to parental monitoring (p<0.001) and doing sports (p=0,019). Discussion: The study contributes to the discussion about the role of a selection of protective and risk factors of tobacco smoking and alcohol drinking among juveniles by highlighting the importance of close relationships and spending free time meaningful way as a significant protective factors. The results are useful for creating and implementing prevention programmes.