Anna Kowalewska

The aim of the study was to analyze the trends of adolescent substance use in four eastern European countries over the time period from 1994 to 2018. The four countries in focus were selected based on their shared historical backgrounds and major economic and social transformations experienced. Methods: Two decades (1993/1994–2017/2018) of repeated cross-sectional data from the Estonian, Latvian, Lithuanian, and Polish Health Behaviour in School-aged Children survey were used. Data comprised 42,169 school children 15 years of age (9th grade). The following categories of substance use were included: regular alcohol consumption and drunkenness, tobacco smoking, electronic cigarette smoking, and cannabis use. Trends in substance use over time were tested using Jonckheere’s trend test. Results: Prevalence of substance use among adolescents over time revealed that the Baltic states and Poland have faced relatively different temporal trends. In the Baltic states, there was a general increase during the period of 1994–2002, which was followed by a period of peaking or stability between 2002–2010, and then decreasing trends of these risky behaviors from 2010 onwards. In Poland, the same period had less consistent patterns, with decreasing trends starting much earlier on. The prevalence of cannabis use, which had been measured since 2006, had its own unique pattern with many fluctuations within and between countries. Conclusions: The findings on the prevalence of substance use among adolescents from 1994 to 2018 revealed that the Baltic states and Poland have faced relatively different temporal trends. These countries might be facing new public health challenges in a near future, e.g., use of electronic cigarettes and cannabis use among adolescents.

In the last Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children (HBSC) survey conducted in Poland in 2018, a group of 17-year-old adolescents (n = 1663; mean age 17.63 ± 0.36 years) was included outside the international protocol. This allowed an assessment to be made of their level of health literacy (HL) using the 10-point HBSC research tool. The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between HL and risk behaviours (RB). A standardised index of RB in the last 30 days was considered as an outcome measure. This index was significantly higher in the group with low HL (0.318 ± 1.269) in comparison with the group with high HL (−0.083 ± 0.962). In a multivariate linear regression model, the strongest predictors of RB were gender, academic performance and level of regional deprivation, but the association with HL remained significant. This significant association persisted in general schools and in girls but disappeared in vocational schools and in boys. It was also shown that in rural areas, good academic performance has a less significant impact on RB if the HL level is low. The analyses led to the conclusion that when examining the relationship between HL and RB in older adolescents, it is advisable to take into account gender, the educational track and neighbourhood characteristics.

This paper presents the scientific and educational activities of Professor Andrzej Jaczewski in the field of training pedagogues in the biological and medical foundations of development and upbringing. These activities were an important part of the concept of comprehensive student care advocated by Professor Jaczewski. His scouting experience, his work as a doctor, a secondary school teacher, or a research and didactic staff member at the Medical Academy and the Institute of Mother and Child at the University of Warsaw, as well as his cooperation with other research and teaching centres in Poland and abroad, played an important role in shaping his views on the training of pedagogues in medical issues. The paper presents the process of implementation and realisation of the subject “Biomedical foundations of development and upbringing” at pedagogical faculties in Poland with particular emphasis on the role of Professor Andrzej Jaczewski in this process. The article discusses activities concerning education in medical issues of the local and nationwide range carried out at the Faculty of Education of the University of Warsaw. Finally, Prof. Jaczewski’s suggestions and dreams concerning the future of the subject “Biomedical foundations of development and upbringing” in the education of pedagogues are referred to.

Objectives: In an attempt to describe composite scales relating to sexual norms, we present their structure, psychosocial determinants, and the association with adolescent sexual initiation. Methods: A representative sample of Polish students was surveyed in 2015 (n = 1024, mean age 17.8 ± 0.31). Three scales of sexual norms were identified using principal component analysis. Logistic regression and path models were applied. Results: The scales concerning stereotype gender norms, as well as restrictive and permissive sexual norms, were developed. Restrictive norms lead to later sexual initiation and were more frequent in combination with love for the first partner. The variability of all the indices was significantly correlated with the peer environment. A number of direct and indirect paths were found among the above indices, family relationships (support, communication), and socio-emotional strengths, such as the meaning of life, coherence, and self-esteem. Conclusions: The norms of sexual morality should be included in the analysis of the determinants of adolescent sexual behaviours along with an investigation of complex causal models. The results may contribute to improvement in sexual health promotion.

Introduction: Young people who have experienced change in the family situation tend to have more cognitive, emotional and behavioural problems than those from intact families. The aim of the study is to compare adolescents raised with both biological parents and in other families in terms of...

The aim of the research was to present the prevalence of the regular tobacco smoking, the age of Polish adolescents' smoking onset, as well as the trends in these behaviours in 2010-2014, and to identify the fam- ily factors related to early tobacco initiation, and regular smoking. The study was conducted in 2013/2014 as a part of the HBSC--Health Behaviour in School-aged Children: A WHO collaborative cross-national study, in a representative sample of Polish students (n=4545; 2263 boys, and 2282 girls), in three age groups, in mean age 11.6; 13.6; 15.6. The international, standard HBSC questionnaire was used. Results showed that prevalence of adolescents smoking onset, as well as regular smoking increased with age. There was no statistically significant difference comparing to HBSC study conducted in 2009/10. The important predictors of early tobacco initiation were: the male gender, living in broken or reconstructed family, and living in the rural area. Considering regular smoking, the most important risk factors were: older age (13,15 y.o.) and living with single parent or in reconstructed family. In planning the prevention strategies there is a need to take into account the family role in children and adolescents' smoking prevention, as well as how to support single parents.

International HBSC (Health Behavior in School-aged Children) studies provide an unique opportunity to monitor trends in health behaviours. The purpose of the present study is to describe current trends in the prevalence and determinants of daily smoking among Polish adolescents. Materials and methods: Analyses were based on data from the samples of 15-year-olds who participated in the HBSC study in 2005/2006, 2009/2010 and 2013/2014 (total N = 5722). A dichotomous variable was created, representing daily smoking. Family socioeconomic status was described by a subjective indicator (PFW--perceived family well-off) and neighborhood well-off Daily smoking rates decreased in 2006-2014, however gender influenced. An upward trend was observed in girls. Gender convergence in smoking was due to coexisting increase of rates in girls and decrease in boys. Based on the data from the combined sample, daily smoking was more prevalent in poor families and in regions with more local problems, which applied both to boys and girls. An increase risk of smoking in rich families was observed only in 2006. In the last survey only local area status remained in the final model. Conclusions: Preliminary results of the new HBSC study conducted in Poland suggest unfavorable trends in tobacco smoking mostly in adolescent girls. It is worth to pay attention to the environmental aspects of smoking in adolescence and to analyze both the impact of family and neighborhood well-off.

The objective of the study was to examine the relationship between the perception of selected peer behaviours, social relationships and the neighbourhood social capital among 15-year-old adolescents in Poland. Research was carried out in 2010 as part of a successive series of the HBSC international studies on health behaviours in school-aged children (Health Behaviour in School-aged Children: AWHO Collaborative Cross-national Study). 1551 students in the third grade of junior high schools were surveyed (762 boys and 789 girls). The standard, international, anonymous HBSC questionnaire was used in the surveys. In the analyses the scales for perception of male and female risky peer behaviours, the scales for communication with peers as well as the scales of confidence in friends, social competences and the social capital were used. It was found that the perception among respondents of their male and female friends as individuals engaging in risky behaviours (tobacco smoking, alcohol consumption, getting drunk) was widespread. Almost 40% of respondents claimed that all or most of their friends smoked cigarettes; one in two respondents was of the opinion that they drank alcohol; and one in ten that they get drunk. In the analyses comprising linear regression it was demonstrated that as the intensity of risky peer behaviours increases, selected social relationships deteriorate; this particularly applies to the general assessment of social capital. With regard to preventive measures aimed at counteracting risky behaviours among adolescents more attention should be paid to compliance with the provisions of law on tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption by minors among private individuals as well as those professionally dealing with law enforcement. An important task is also to raise the awareness of adolescents and adults of the relationship between young people engaging in risky behaviours and declining confidence in individuals and formal and informal institutions.

The aim of the study was to analyse the relationship between smoking initiation and the time spent watching TV, video, DVD by adolescents 11, 13, and 15-year-old in Poland. The research was conducted in 2010 as a part of Health Behaviour in School-aged Children: A WHO Collaborative Cross-national Study (HBSC) in a sample of 4751 students, using a standard, international HBSC questionnaire. It was found that there is a relationship between smoking attempts made by the young people and time spent watching TV during weekdays. In the analyzes using logistic regression combined variable relating to the time to watch TV on weekdays and weekends was used. Nearly a quarter of respondents (24.3%) were qualified to the group of adolescents spending too much time in front of the screen. Age was the strongest predictor of smoking onset. Between 11 and 13 years of age the risk of taking the first cigarette increased three times, and between 11 and 15 years of age more than seven times. Relative risk of smoking attempts related to gender and frequency of watching television, video or DVD was both equal to 1.5. In smoking prevention focused on adolescents it is should be better to pay more attention on constructive leisure time activities, and the role of parents in shaping pro-health attitudes. This is particularly important in the initial stages of schooling, when to develop and enhance the psychosocial competences as a the protective factor of risk taking behaviors among adolescents.

The aim of this study was researching of dependence between current status of smoking and opinions about smoking tobacco in public places and at home of girls at the age 18. We examined 2246 girls who graduated junior high schools and were continuing their education in four types of schools: high schools, profiled high schools, technical secondary schools and vocational schools. Two-stage sampling method was used, with the team stratification by type of school. The study was conducted in November and December 2008, the auditorium method. The results show that although more than half of the girls, do not agree with smoking in various public places and by parents at home, about one quarter of them accept smoking in cafes, restaurants, pubs and bus stops, and less than 1/5 have no opinion on the subject. Applied analysis using logistic regression analysis indicate a close relationship between smoking trials undertaken by the girls examined, and their opinion about the approval for smoking by students at the school. The model attempts to smoking was a significant predictor of acceptance of smoking in cafes and pubs, and the model of the current consensus on tobacco smoking at bus stops. The presented results indicate the need for prevention activities among children and adolescents, which will contribute to the education of attitudes and skills necessary to take measures aimed at creating environments free from tobacco smoke.