Factors Associated With High School Students’ Alcohol Consumption Across Three European Countries

Abstract

Based on a survey conducted in high schools in three countries—the Czech Republic, Italy, and Slovenia—this study investigates the factors influencing alcohol consumption among high school students. Our analysis is based on four linear regression models, with the dependent variable, Alcohol Consumption—one model for each country and a joint model for all countries. The results show that there are large differences as far as drinking habits and patterns across countries are concerned. Whereas the patterns of the Czech students are similar to those of Slovenian students, the behavior of the Italians shows more distinctive features. Factors positively related to alcohol consumption include cigarette smoking, marijuana consumption, time spent with friends (positive relations), sport activities, art engagement, and gender-female (negative relation). As factors regarding students’ psychological state are insignificant, it may be concluded that alcohol consumption among teenagers from our sample is a phenomenon that is insensitive to changes in character but sensitive to social environment and life circumstances. Our results can serve as a map showing various drinking patterns. Applicable results can be deduced.

Alcohol and tobacco use in Portuguese adolescents: The relationship with social factors, future expectations, physical and psychological symptoms

“…There are several factors that can influence adolescents’ involvement in alcohol and tobacco use, namely, those related to the parents, peer groups, school and consumption of other substances (Patrick & Schulenberg, 2014). The literature points to the existence of a tendency towards a positive association between alcohol and tobacco consumption, since the involvement in one of the risk behaviors can lead to the exposure and experimentation with the other (DeRuiter et al, 2014; Janáček et al, 2021; McKee et al, 2007; Verplaetse & McKee, 2017).…”

“…The development of this type of risk behaviours has negative repercussions on the adolescents’ health (Janáček et al, 2021; Lewis & Russel, 2014; MacArthur et al, 2016; Patterson et al, 2020), which appears to be associated with an increase in morbidity and mortality and constitutes a considerable challenge for the public health. Substance use (i.e., alcohol, tobacco and drugs) has physical, mental and social consequences.…”