[Family and peer factors related to alcohol abuse and smoking by 15-year-old youth]

Abstract

Introduction: A characteristic feature of the period of adolescence is to experiment with e.g. alcohol drinking and tobacco smoking. Both family relations and relations with peer groups can be referred to undertaking this kind of behavior by adolescents.

Objective: The aim of this study was an attempt to assess relationships between joint family and peer-group relations and the frequency of binge drinking and tobacco smoking by 15-year-olds.

Material and methods: The study was conducted in 2010/2011 within the framework of the international HBSC study (Health Behaviour in School-aged Children) on a group of 1551 people aged 15 years (49.1% boys). It was carried out in schools. Items from the HBSC questionnaire were used to assess the frequency of undertaking risky behaviors. To assess the quality of relations within the family, questions from the FDM II scale (Family Dynamics Measure II) were used, whereas an abbreviated version of the IPPA (Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment) scale was used to assess the quality of peer relations. Three patterns of relations with family and peers were identified by the use of the cluster analysis methods (k-means method).

Results: In the group of girls the differences in the proportions in clusters reflecting the patterns of relations with the family and peers were greater than in boys. 15-year olds who had good relations with peers and poor relations with their family got drunk and smoked tobacco more often than adolescents in other clusters.

Conclusions: The frequency of undertaking risk behavior by adolescents is associated with perceptions of social relations. Good family relations, as a protective factor, may partially reduce the negative impact of the peer group on undertaking risk behavior by adolescents. There is a need for further research to answer the question about the trends in the correspondence between the quality of family and peer relations and undertaking risk behaviors.