Self-reported health problems of Slovak adolescents

Abstract

This paper describes self-reported health problems among 2616 Slovak adolescents (52.4% boys, 47.6% girls). Adolescents consider their health as very good in general. They often feel 'vital', and rarely feel depressed or irritated. However, the psychological health of more than 20% of the boys and 40% of the girls was unsatisfactory. Furthermore, a sizeable number suffered from separate physical complaints, chronic diseases or used medical services. Findings are more unfavourable for girls in comparison with boys. Our findings indicate that adolescence is not such a healthy period in human life as is often considered. The Slovak Republic, a Central European country, does not differ in this respect from Western European countries.

Parental support and adolescents' health in the context of parental employment status

“…Health complaints experienced during the previous month were recorded using the Slovak version of the Dutch questionnaire VOEG (Geckova et al, 2001); (Jansen & Sikkel, 1994). This shortened version consisted of 13 items.…”

Prevalence and Social Correlates of Injury Among In-School Adolescents in Botswana

“…Adolescence, in particular, is an important period because it is the time when young people are experimenting with, and also establishing, their lifestyle, attitudes, concepts, beliefs and habits that may have long-term influences on their health (Geckova et al, 2001). It has become a more significant developmental stage in many African countries, whereas before there had been a more direct transition from childhood to adulthood (Lloyd, 2005).…”

Health status among young people in Slovakia: comparisons on the basis of age, gender and education

“…Health complaints experienced during the previous month were recorded using the Slovak version of the Dutch questionnaire VOEG (Jansen & Sikkel, 1994;Geckova et al, 2001). This shortened version consists of 13 items.…”

“…Several studies using self-reported health indicators among adolescents have been carried out in Slovakia in the recent years (King, Wold, Tudor-Smith, & Harrel, 1996;Currie, Hurrelmann, Settertobulte, Smith, & Todd, 2000;Geckova et al, 2001). Currie et al (2000) conducted their study in 1997-98.…”

“…Adolescents in Slovakia were among those who most frequently reported headache, stomach-ache and backache out of 28 world countries. Geckova et al (2001) described health status among 15 year olds in Slovakia using self-reported health indicators. They found that Slovak adolescents did not differ in health status from those in Western Europe.…”