Citation

Madarasova Geckova A, van Dijk JP, Honcariv R, Groothoff JW, Post D. Croat. Med. J. 2003; 44(1): 41-49.

Affiliation

Institute of Social Sciences, Faculty of Science, PJ Safarik University, Manesova 23, 04157 Kosice, Slovak Republic. geckova@kosice.upjs.sk

Copyright

(Copyright © 2003, University of Zagreb Medical School, Publisher Medicinska Naklada)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

12590428

Abstract

AIM: To investigate the role of health risk behavior, such as smoking and alcohol consumption, in the explanation of socio-economic health differences among adolescents. The hypothesis of different exposure and the hypothesis of different vulnerability were explored. METHOD: In the study carried out in 1998, the prevalence of health complaints of smokers vs non-smokers, alcohol consumers vs abstainers, and among different socio-economic groups of 2,616 Slovak adolescents (mean age, 14.9-/+0.62 years) were investigated by means of self-reported questionnaires. The adolescents were stratified according to sex and type of secondary school. RESULTS: Socio-economic disadvantage and the presence of health risk behavior were associated with greater frequency of health complaints by adolescents. Prevalence of smokers was higher in lower socio-economic groups, but no such trend was found for the prevalence of alcohol consumers. Socio-economic status and health risk behavior interactively influenced health, when socio-economic status was assessed according to the mother's characteristics. Socio-economic health differences between non-smokers and abstainers were not significant, unlike the differences between the smokers and alcohol consumers. The influence of health risk behavior was weaker in higher socio-economic groups. CONCLUSION: Both hypotheses, of different exposure and different vulnerability, could explain socio-economic health differences among Slovak adolescents, with different exposure playing a more important role.

Language: en