Detailed contribution information
| Contribution title | 2558 - Prevalence and factors associated with smoking and alcohol use status among adolescents in high school in Taiwan |
|---|---|
| Contribution code | PS01-38 (P) |
| Authors | |
| Form of presentation | Poster |
| Topic |
|
| Abstract |
Background: Cigarette smoking and alcohol drinking are the most common types of substance use & misuse (SUM) among adolescents, which have long been matters of great public concern. During Adolescence, unhealthy behaviors may be consolidated into lifetime patterns. SUM prevention is important and crucial among adolescents. The understanding of the factors associated with SUM among adolescents can inform prevention of SUM and its negative impact. Objective: This study investigated the prevalence of SUM, and the association between SUM and sociodemographic, familial, scholastic, psychological (depression and self-esteem) factors among Taipei high school students. Methods: A cohort of senior high school students were recruited in northern Taiwan by computerized questionnaire. Data were collected including sociodemographics, family background, social support, tobacco, alcohol, and illegal substance consumption as well as their depression symptoms, using the 9-item Physical Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). AUDIT-C, the first three questions from the AUDIT, was used to evaluate alcohol use in the past month. Heavy alcohol drinking was defined as the AUDIT-C scores were equal or greater than 4. One-month prevalence rates were calculated for tobacco and heavy alcohol use. Associations between psychopathology and SUM were determined using regression analyses. Results: Self-administered computerized questionnaires were completed in the classrooms by 2544 boys and girls 3335 aged 14-21 years (mean, 16.0 years). Two hundred and twenty six students reported current smoking including 153 males and 73 females (6.01% vs. 2.19%) and 234 students reported heavy alcohol drinking including 256 males and 178 females (10.06% vs. 5.34%). After adjusting for socio-economic factors, regression models for adolescents delineated factors associated with current smoking: male gender, older age, poorer academic performance, heavy alcohol drinking (AUDIT-C scores ≧4), and more depressive symptoms. Adolescents’ heavy alcohol drinking were significantly associated with male gender, poorer academic performance, not living with the biological parents, current smoking, and more depressed symptoms. Conclusion: An understanding of these relationships can be utilized to screen and intervene with students at risk. |