Risk behaviors of children and adolescents: Can strengths and difficulties in behavior explain the use of tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana?
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.13112/pc.1230Keywords:
Konzumacija duhana; Pijenje alkohola; Kanabis; Adolescent; Problematično ponašanjeAbstract
Aim: Substance use during adolescence represents a significant public health challenge, making systematic monitoring and a better understanding of risk and protective factors essential for the development of effective prevention and intervention strategies. The aim of this study was to explain alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana use among adolescents through strengths and difficulties in behavior.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2024 among upper-grade primary school students and secondary school students. Using stratified sampling, 925 students were included, with a mean age of 15.4 years (range 13–19 years), included 57.9 % boys (N = 536) and 42.1 % girls (N = 389).
Results: Three hierarchical regression analyses were conducted. Tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana use were consistently associated with older age and more frequent behavioral problems, while male gender was associated with tobacco and alcohol use. Specifically, higher levels of hyperactivity/inattention were associated with more frequent cigarette smoking, whereas lower emotional competence was associated only with more frequent marijuana use. Contrary to expectations, prosocial behavior was positively associated with tobacco and marijuana use.
Conclusions: These findings clearly indicate that substance use is associated with behavioral difficulties, while associations with strengths are more limited. Future efforts aimed at reducing the frequency of substance use should incorporate the identified risk and protective factors as part of a broader preventive approach. The results highlight the need for a more detailed conceptual clarification of prosocial behavior in adolescence and its role in substance use.
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