[Risk behaviors syndrome and subjective health and life satisfaction in youth aged 15 years].

UNLABELLED: THE PURPOSE of this study was to define risk behaviour syndrome and its influence on subjective health and life satisfaction in adolescents.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

The study was based on the HBSC study (HBSC -- Health Behaviour in School Aged Children. A WHO Cross-National Collaborative Study) carried out in Poland in 2002. The sample (N=2152) was selected as representative of pupils from III grade of secondary schools (mean age 15.7). Multivariate logistic regression models were estimated to assess the risk of poor health, frequent psychological or somatic complaints and low life satisfaction in relation to number of escalated risk behaviours, gender, place of residence, family affluence and school achievements.

RESULTS

The index of multiple escalated risk behaviours was derived by summing six components: every day smoking, frequent episodes of drunkenness, drug abuse, early sexual initiation, frequent bullying and fighting (alpha-Cronbach=0.696). Almost 43% of adolescents reported at least one out of six behaviours, while 12%, three or more. The number of risk behaviours is increasing dramatically in adolescents from lower social classes and in students with poor school achievement. Boys are less likely to report poor health and low life satisfaction, but more likely than girls to be involved in multiple health compromising behaviours. Adolescents engaged in 4 or more risk behaviours, comparing to not engaged, were at higher risk of poor health (OR=2.39; CI(OR)=(1.51-3.78)) and low life satisfaction (OR=1.65; CI(OR)=(1.06-2.58)). In girls even single risk behaviour resulted in negative health outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

Psychoactive substances abuse, early sexual initiation and frequent contact with violence form internally consistent syndrome of risk behaviours in youth. Adolescents from poor families and with poor school achievements are more likely to be involved in multiple risk behaviours, especially in deprived urban areas. Subjective well-being is highly associated with the expression of risk behaviours.