The aim of this paper was to investigate associations between engagement in various types of leisure activity and alcohol use among Ukrainian adolescents. We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 1075 adolescents who were enrolled in the Family and Children of Ukraine birth cohort study using a self-administered questionnaire to determine how they prefer to spend their leisure time and their use of alcohol. Use of social media was associated with a higher risk of ever having used alcohol (OR = 2.11; 95%CI: [1.40–3.19]), used alcohol in the past 12 months (OR = 2.60; 95%CI [1.73–3.90]), and used alcohol in the past 30 days (OR = 2.35; 95%CI [1.50–3.70]). Visiting entertainment establishments (discos, recreation centers) was associated with a higher risk of ever used alcohol (OR = 1.84; 95%CI [1.33–2.56]), used alcohol in the past 12 months (OR = 2.09 95%CI (1.52–2.87), and used alcohol in the past 30 days (OR = 2.29; 95%CI [1.65–3.17]). Reading books was protective against using alcohol in the past 12 months (OR = 0.59; 95%CI [0.42–0.82] and the past 30 days (OR = 0.47; 95%CI [0.35–0.63]). Engaging in cultural leisure activities was protective against alcohol use in the past 30 days (OR = 0.72; 95% CI [0.54–0.95]). We conclude that among Ukrainian adolescents, engagement in sports, social media use and visiting entertainment establishments are associated with increased risk for alcohol use while reading books and engaging in cultural leisure activities are protective.

The aim of this paper was to determine whether engagement in tourism is associated with risky behaviors among Ukrainian adolescents. The study sample consisted of 1075 adolescents who were enrolled in the "Family and Children of Ukraine" birth cohort study. They self reported how they prefer to spend their leisure time as well as their smoking, drinking, and sexual behaviors. The adolescents also completed the revised Eysenck Personality Inventory (EPI). Engagement in tourism was not associated with smoking or alcohol use. It was associated with ever having had sexual relations (OR=1.63; p=0.022) and with having had recent sexual relations (OR=1.67; p=0.037). These associations were stronger for males than females. Adolescents who had ever had sexual relations and those who had recent sexual relations had significantly higher extraversion scores on the EPI than adolescents who had not (18.16 vs 16.65; p=0.002 and 18.45 vs 16.72; p = 0.002, respectively). In multivariable analyses, ever having sexual relations and having recent sexual relations were significantly associated with male gender, age, and marginally associated with extraversion, but not with tourism. The authors conclude that among Ukrainian adolescents, the association between engagement in tourism and sexual behavior is mediated by personality, specifically higher extraversion.

Background: The aim of this paper was to investigate associations between engagement in specific types of leisure activities and smoking among Ukrainian adolescents. Methods:We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 1075 adolescents enrolled in the Family and Children of Ukraine birth cohort study using a self-administered questionnaire to determine their leisure activities and smoking behaviors. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, calculation of odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals, and gender-stratified analyses using Mantel Haenszel methods.Results: 51.6% of males and 41.4% of females reported ever smoking and 22.8% of males and 15.8% of females had smoked within the past 30 days. Risk factors for ever having smoked include socializing on the internet (OR=1.84; 95% CI: [1.25-2.71]), playing sports (OR=1.48; 95% CI: [1.07-2.04]), and visiting entertainment venues (OR=1.94; 95% CI: [1.44-2.61]). Reading books for leisure was protective against both ever having smoked (OR=0.53; 95% CI: [0.40-0.70]) and smoking in the past 30 days (OR=0.45; 95% CI: [0.32-0.63]). Engaging in drawing or crafts was also protective against both ever having smoked (OR= 0.61; 95% CI: [0.45-0.80]) and smoking in the past 30 days (0.58; 95% CI: [0.40-0.82]). Leading a cultural life (going to theaters, concerts, museums) was protective against having smoked in the past 30 days (OR=0.62; 95% CI: [0.44-0.87]). Conclusions:We conclude that engagement in specific types of leisure activities can affect the risk of adolescents' smoking behaviors.