Being Drunk to Have Fun or to Forget Problems? Identifying Enhancement and Coping Drinkers Among Risky Drinking Adolescents

Prevention programs in adolescence are particularly effective if they target homogeneous risk groups of adolescents who share a combination of particular needs and problems. The present work aims to identify and classify risky single-occasion drinking (RSOD) adolescents according to their motivation to engage in drinking. An easy-to-use coding procedure was developed. It was validated by means of cluster analyses and structural equation modeling based on two randomly selected subsamples of a nationally representative sample of 2,449 12- to 18-year-old RSOD students in Switzerland. Results revealed that the coding procedure classified RSOD adolescents as either enhancement drinkers or coping drinkers. The high concordance (Sample A: kappa - .88, Sample B: kappa - .90) with the results of the cluster analyses demonstrated the convergent validity of the coding classification. The fact that enhancement drinkers in both subsamples were found to go out more frequently in the evenings and to have more satisfactory social relationships, as well as a higher proportion of drinking peers and a lower likelihood to drink at home than coping drinkers demonstrates the concurrent validity of the classification. To conclude, the coding procedure appears to be a valid, reliable, and easy-to-use tool that can help better adapt prevention activities to adolescent risky drinking motives.

Methods and representativeness of European surveys in children and adolescents: the KIDSCREEN study

Background: The objective of the present study was to compare three different sampling and questionnaire administration methods used in the international KIDSCREEN study in terms of participation, response rates, and external validity. Methods: Children and adolescents aged 8–18 years were surveyed in 13 European countries using either telephone sampling and mail administration, random sampling of school listings followed by classroom or mail administration, or multistage random sampling of communities and households with self-administration of the survey materials at home. Cooperation, completion, and response rates were compared across countries and survey methods. Data on non-respondents was collected in 8 countries. The population fraction (PF, respondents in each sex-age, or educational level category, divided by the population in the same category from Eurostat census data) and population fraction ratio (PFR, ratio of PF) and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals were used to analyze differences by country between the KIDSCREEN samples and a reference Eurostat population. Results: Response rates by country ranged from 18.9% to 91.2%. Response rates were highest in the school-based surveys (69.0%–91.2%). Sample proportions by age and gender were similar to the reference Eurostat population in most countries, although boys and adolescents were slightly underrepresented (PFR <1). Parents in lower educational categories were less likely to participate (PFR <1 in 5 countries). Parents in higher educational categories were overrepresented when the school and household sampling strategies were used (PFR = 1.78–2.97). Conclusion: School-based sampling achieved the highest overall response rates but also produced slightly more biased samples than the other methods. The results suggest that the samples were sufficiently representative to provide reference population values for the KIDSCREEN instrument.

Self-reported social class in adolescents: validity and relationship with gradients in self-reported health

Background: Analyzing social differences in the health of adolescents is a challenge. The accuracy of adolescent's report on familial socio-economic position is unknown. The aims of the study were to examine the validity of measuring occupational social class and family level of education reported by adolescents aged 12 to 18, and the relationship between social position and self-reported health.Methods: A sample of 1453 Spanish adolescents 12 to 18 years old from urban and rural areas completed a self-administered questionnaire including the Child Health and Illness Profile-Adolescent Edition (CHIP-AE), and data on parental occupational social class (OSC) and level of education (LE). The responsible person for a sub-sample of teenagers (n = 91) were interviewed by phone. Kappa coefficients were estimated to analyze agreement between adolescents and proxy-respondents, and logistic regression models were adjusted to analyze factors associated with missing answers and disagreements. Effect size (ES) was calculated to analyze the relationship between OSC, LE and the CHIP-AE domain scores.Results: Missing answers were higher for father's (24.2%) and mother's (45.7%) occupational status than for parental education (8.4%, and 8.1% respectively), and belonging to a non-standard family was associated with more incomplete reporting of social position (OR = 4,98; 95%CI = 1,3–18,8) as was agreement between a parent and the adolescent. There were significant social class gradients, most notably for aspects of health related to resilience to threats to illness.ConclusionAdolescents can acceptably self-report on family occupation and level of education. Social class gradients are present in important aspects of health in adolescents.

Implementation and evaluation of an internet health site for adolescents in Switzerland.

Ciao is a website specifically designed for young people and focuses mainly on health issues. This report presents the process of setting up the site and a first evaluation undertaken by using two self-administered questionnaires administered via the website itself. It suggests that it is possible to provide young people with authoritative health information and to facilitate their access to counseling and health care facilities by having young people use such a website.

Measured and predicted resting metabolic rate in obese and nonobese adolescents.

OBJECTIVES: The validity of equations for the calculation of resting metabolic rate (RMR) were studied and new predictive equations were developed. STUDY DESIGN: The RMR was measured in a sample of 371 10- to 16-year-old prepubertal and postpubertal children. The study group included 193 male (116 nonobese and 77 obese) and 178 female (119 nonobese and 59 obese) subjects; for each group the RMRs predicted from five equations recommended for this age group were compared. The RMR was assessed by indirect calorimetry with a ventilated hood system for 45 minutes after an overnight fast. Body composition was estimated from skin-fold measurements. RESULTS: The mean +/- SD RMR was found to be 5600 +/- 972 kJ/24 hr and 7223 +/- 1220 kJ/24 hr in nonobese and obese boys, and 5112 +/- 632 kJ/24 hr and 6665 +/- 1106 kJ/24 hr in nonobese and obese girls, respectively. All five equations applicable to 10- to 16-year-old children overestimated RMR by 7.5% to 18.1% (p < 0.001 for each equation). Stepwise regression analysis, with independent variables such as age, weight, height, and gender, allowed development of new predictive equations for the calculation of RMR in 10- to 16-year-old boys (RMR = 50.9 Weight (kg) + 25.3 Height (cm) -50.3 Age (yr) + 26.9; R2 = 0.884, p < 0.0001) and girls (RMR = 51.2 Weight (kg) + 24.5 Height (cm) - 207.5 Age (yr) + 1629.8; R2 = 0.824, p < 0.0001). These predictive equations were tested in a second, independent cohort of children (80 male and 61 female subject) and were found to give a reliable estimate of RMR in 10- to 16-year-old obese and nonobese adolescents. CONCLUSIONS: The currently used predictive equations overestimate RMR in 10- to 16-year-old children. The use of the newly developed equations is recommended.

Deferred effects of nursery school on adolescents' school performance in Spain

This research analysis the long-term effects of nursery school attendance before the age of three in Spain. The effects are measured when the individuals are adolescents and attend secondary school. The article deals with the controversy over the long-term effects of nursery school attendance and its potential effect on reducing inequalities and social exclusion. The results estimate a significant long-term effect of nursery school attendance on improving educational performance, although the beneficial effects are lower among adolescents residing in the lower status households.

Santé et styles de vie des adolescents âgés de 16 à 20 ans en Suisse (2002). SMASH 2002 : Swiss multicenter adolescent survey on health 2002

Le présent rapport décrit les grandes tendances qui se dégagent des résultats de l'Enquête SMASH 2002 et propose quelques hypothèses pour éclairer la compréhension et les enjeux de la situation actuelle ainsi que des pistes de réflexion pour l'avenir. Cette étude repose sur deux approches complémentaires de la santé: l'une donne la primauté aux aspects sociologiques des conduites de santé ("lifestyle"); l'autre, de nature épidémiologique, met l'accent sur la prévalence des comportements et procède à des analyses dans divers sous-groupes ou dans le temps. L'étude SMASH 2002 fournit une photographie de la situation des adolescents et de leur état de santé : besoins et comportements de santé, facteurs associés et évaluation des grands changements intervenus depuis une dizaine d'années. Ces données doivent permettre de réfléchir à une planification optimale des services de soins et des programmes de prévention et de promotion de la santé en faveur des adolescents. [extraits du résumé des auteurs]

Frequency and effects of meeting health-behavior guidelines among adolescents

Objective: To assess the relationship between overweight status and the concomitant adherence to physical activity, daily screen time, and nutritional guidelines. Methods: Data were derived from the Swiss HBSC survey 2006. Participants (n=8130, 48.7% girls) were divided into two groups: normal-weight (n=7215, 44.8% girls), and overweight (n=915, 34.8% girls), using self-reported height and weight. Groups were compared on adherence to physical activity, screen time and nutritional guidelines. Bivariate analyses were carried out followed by multivariate analyses using normal-weight individuals as the reference category. Results: Regardless of gender, overweight individuals reported more screen time, less physical activity, and less concomitant adherence to guidelines. For boys, the multivariate analysis showed that any amount exceeding screen time recommendations was associated with increased odds of being overweight (>2-4h: adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=l .40; >4-6h: AOR=l .48; >6h: AOR=l .83). A similar relation was found for any amount below physical activity recommendations (4-6 times a week: AOR=1.67; 2-3 times a week: AOR=1.87; once a week or less: AOR=2.1). For girls, not meeting nutritional guidelines was less likely among overweight individuals (0-2 recommendations: AOR=0.54). Regardless of weight status, more than half of adolescents did not comply with any guideline and less than 2% met all 3 at the same time. Conclusions: Meeting current nutritional, physical activity and screen time guidelines should be encouraged with respect to overweight. However, as extremely low rates of concomitant adherence were found regardless of weight status, their achievability is questionable (especially for nutrition) which warrants further research to better adapt them to adolescents.

Neuromotor performance of normally developing left-handed children and adolescents.

Neuromotor functioning - i.e., timed performance and quality of movements - was examined in 66 left-handed children and adolescents between 5 and 18.5 years by means of the Zurich Neuromotor Assessment. Quality of movements was assessed by the degree and the frequency of associated movements. Results were compared to normative data from 593 right-handers. The overall scores for timed motor performance were similar for left-handers and right-handers, while left-handers had more associated movements than right-handers with both sides. In agreement with previous studies in adults, we found that left-handed children were less lateralized than right-handers. They performed faster with their non-dominant side and slower with their dominant side. This finding was roughly independent of age, which may indicate that handedness does not reflect long-term effects of previous motor experience, but may be primarily attributed to genetic factors.

El Tabac al món : la indústria a nivell local i global, legislació, problemes i reptes de futur

Per què a un fumador del Canadà li costa 10 vegades més diners comprar un paquet de tabac que el que li costa a un fumador de Cuba? Què se n’ha fet dels anuncis de Marlboro als cotxes de l’escuderia automovilística Ferrari? Comés que s’han creat espais reservats per a fumadors en els últims anys? Aquestes i altres preguntes sobre el món del tabac conformen l’objecte del nostre treball d’investigació. El nostre propòsit és intentar donar resposta a qüestions com aquestes, i fer que el lector entengui realment a què es deuen aquests canvis en l’estructura del mercat del tabac. Mostrarem, mitjançant una mirada analítica dels diferents factors, que gran part d’aquests efectes en un producte (com pot ser el cigarret, en el cas que ens ocupa) són extrapolables a altres béns i que es poden explicar des del punt de vista econòmic, examinant les decisions d’agents amagats com ara el govern, i considerant les repercussions dels diferents tipus de polítiques.Com tots sabem, el món actual està conformat per un seguit de relacions entre individus, o millor dit, agents econòmics que interactuen entre ells. Els resultats d’aquestes interaccions determinen el comportament de variables que, ben definides, poden ser estudiades, així com els seus efectes. Nosaltres hem intentat mostrar d’una manera senzilla i a l’abast de tothom fins a quin punt arriben aquestes interrelacions. El que preteníem en tot moment basar-nos en dades objectives obtingudes previ estudi. Es per això que, de la mateixa manera que al acabar el treball el lector serà capaç d’entendre per què varia elpreu del mateix bé al creuar una frontera, queda a càrrec de cadascú determinar si, per exemple, els fumadors són objectes de persecució o de si les mesures paternalistes del govern envers la prohibició de la publicitat estan justificades.

Canvis al consum envers la crisi : creació d'una botiga de roba de segona mà

El nostre treball consta principalment de dues parts: En la primera ens hem apropat al tema presentant el context econòmic actual i el món de la roba de segona mà. A continuació ens hem centrat en la relació que existeix entre les dues parts. I per últim hem realitzat un estudi de mercat a partir d’enquestes. Amb aquestes, hem conegut tant la relació com la visió que té la gent sobre el tema, i a més hem establert el consumidor tipus que ens servirà pel futur muntatge del nostre negoci. Les enquestes les hem distribuït en tres districtes de diferent renda per veure si aquesta pot influir en les respostes. Amb la primera part ens hem adonat que la crisi ha fet disminuir la despesa, i aquest fet ajuda a que nous consumidors entrin al nostre mercat. Amb la segona part, i un cop vist que ens trobem en un context favorable, hem buscat la viabilitat que tindria la creació de la nostra pròpia botiga de roba de segona mà. Per fer-ho hem seguit els següents passos: hem buscat la localització òptima per la seva ubicació, hem llogat i dissenyat el local; ens hem constituït com a societat, hem realitzat un estudi dels possibles costos i hem desenvolupat el pla de màrqueting. Finalment, ens adonem que els nostres beneficis serien positius i per tant, el nostre projecte és viable.Actualment, Espanya està immersa en un crisi econòmica, juntament amb molts dels països industrialitzats. Això ha provocat que les famílies disminueixin les seves despeses a l’hora de consumir la major part de béns i serveis que feien fins ara. El que ha succeït doncs, es que han canviat els hàbits de consum, béns que es consumien abans o bé directament han deixat de ser consumits o bé han estat substituïts per d’altres amb un menor cost i que compleixen la mateixa funció. Com hem esmentat , molts productes han estat substituïts per d’altres que tenen un cost més baix. Creiem que un clar exemple és el tema de la roba. La moda és un mercat en competència perfecte, en que les diferents empreses que s’hi dediquen s’intenten diferenciar per diferents aspectes però el preu ve fixat per la relació entre oferta i demanda. És un bé que tothom ha de consumir, en major o menor grau, però essencial per tota la població. És aquí, on els comerços de segona mà tenen l’oportunitat d’abastir a la demanda d’aquests productes, d’una forma més econòmica, ja que són productes que ja han estat utilitzats i no se’ls hi pot fixar el mateix preu de mercat. El nostre treball es basa en veure com ha afectat l’actual crisi a l’hora de consumir de la població barcelonina, centrant-nos en el mercat de la moda i a partir d’aquí, com l’objetiu principal a l’hora de realitzar-ho, veure si seria viable la creació d’una botiga de roba de segona mà. Les motivacions principals que ens han portat a escollir aquest treball han estat bàsicament tres: La primera d’elles és l’actualitat del tema. Sentim parlar sobre la crisi a qualsevol lloc, ja sigui als mitjans de comunicació, al carrer o dins casa nostra ja que ens està afectant directa o indirectament a tota la població. En segon lloc, creiem que el negoci de segona mà no està gaire ben vist per la majoria de la gent i considerem que és una bona oportunitat que la gent desconeix. Amb la realització del treball ens hi volem endinsar una mica per aquest món, conèixer les possibilitats que amaga i establir la relació entre la crisi i el mercat de segona mà. Per últim trobem el que pertany a la segona part del treball: El muntatge d’una botiga. Com a joves estudiants d’econòmiques, ens crida molt l’atenció el fet de crear un propi negoci. Ens sembla molt interessant tots els processos que s’han de dur a terme fins a l’obertura de la tenda i volem extreure una visió empresarial sobre el treball. Pel que fa a la metodologia que hem seguit per poder realitzar el nostre treball, cal dir que hem separat aquest en dues parts: La primera part és bàsicament teòrica. En ella hem fet una visió general sobre la crisi en que ens trobem, com va arribar i les conseqüències que ha tingut. A continuació hem cercat diferents notícies a la premsa escrita i digital que parlaven de com havia augmentat el consum als comerços de segona mà i hem explicat com són aquests amb exemples de botigues de roba de segona mà. Per últim hem fet un estudi de mercat mitjançant una enquesta per tal de contrastar les hipòtesis inicials del nostre treball que a continuació exposarem i també per treure idees bàsiques sobre com hauria de ser el nostre comerç.La segona part és el treball pràctic, és a dir, tots els passos que hem hagut de seguir des de la idea de creació de la botiga fins a la posada en marxa pròpiament dita. Hem cercat tota la regulació que havíem de complir, ens hem constituït com a societat limitada, hem trobat un local i hem muntat l’interior, hem tingut contactes amb diferents proveïdors de roba, hem contractat als treballadors i hem fet un anàlisi sobre els costos que hauríem de patir a l’inici del projecte i a partir d’aquí extraurem la conclusió sobre si seria viable o no la creació d’aquest negoci. Per últim, exposem les nostres dues hipòtesis inicials, sobre les que a mida que anem avançant pel treball, ens argumentarem i finalment les confirmarem o negarem.1- La crisi ha fet disminuir el poder adquisitiu de la població, de manera que es redueix la despesa en consum i el mercat de la 2a mà es veu beneficiat ja que tenen uns preus inferiors, més accessibles per la majoria de la gent, per un mateix producte o de característiques similars als que compraven fins ara.2- Aprofitant la conjuntura econòmica és viable crear una botiga de roba de segona mà.

El Consum i les empreses de refinançament

El principal objectiu del nostre treball és l’estudi de les empreses de refinançament espanyoles iamericanes mitjançant l’anàlisi de l’evolució de l’endeutament familiar al nostre país.Posteriorment intentarem establir paral·lelismes entre la situació a Espanya i als Estats Units, onmoltes d’aquestes societats han acabat fent fallida. L’objectiu de la comparació és veure si aquestacrisis arribarà al nostre país a mesura que creixin els impagats.Finalment, establirem un resum de les idees més importants per tal de que el lector pugui obteniruna idea ràpida amb una perspectiva el màxim de realista possible i capaç d’esclarir-nos les idees.

L'adolescent consommateur de substances face au réseau de soins [Substance abuse adolescents and the health care network]

Substance user adolescents were asked to report on each contact they had had with any type of care providers since they had begun to use alcohol or illegal drugs regularly. Primary care doctors and social workers represent the main access to the care network. In one out of two contacts substance use was not discussed.

Blood pressure and cognitive function: a prospective analysis among adolescents in Seychelles

Objective: An inverse relationship between blood pressure and cognitive function has been found in adults, but limited data are available in adolescents and young adults. We prospectively examined the relation between blood pressure and cognitive function in adolescence. Methods: We examined the association between BP measured at the ages of 12-15 years in school surveys and cognitive endpoints measured in the Seychelles Child Development Study at ages 17 (n=407) and 19 (n=429) years respectively. We evaluated multiple domains of cognition based on subtests of the Cambridge Neurological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB), the Woodcock Johnson Test of Scholastic Achievement (WJTA), the Finger Tapping test (FT) and the Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test (K-BIT). We used age-, sex- and height-specific z-scores of systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and mean arterial pressure (MAP). Results: Six out of the 21 cognitive endpoints tested were associated with BP. However, none of these associations were found to hold for both males and females or for different subtests within the same neurodevelopmental domain or for both SBP and DBP. Most of these associations disappeared when analyses were adjusted for selected potential confounding factors such as socio-economic status, birth weight, gestational age, body mass index, alcohol consumption, blood glucose, and total n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fats. Conclusions: Our findings do not support a consistent association between BP and subsequent performance on tests assessing various cognitive domains in adolescents.