The aim of this study was to examine the spread of the dependence on alcohol, smoking and internet and to estimate their connection with psychosocial state among the population of the students of vocational schools. Materials and methods. 395 students between 17-22 years old from Kaunas vocational schools took part in the survey the data of which has been analysed in this study. The habits related to alcohol, smoking and internet were assessed anonymously using the method of frequentative testing and Fagerstrom and AUDIT questionnaire developed for the research of these dependencies. The averages of the sample indications and standard errors of calculations were estimated whilst analysing the data. The criterion of the student (t) was used to compare the average variables of the independent samples. Independency of indications was checked with the help of chi square (x) criterion. Associations are considered to be statistically significant if p < 0,05. Results. After the habits of alcohol consumption had been estimated , it was defined that 89 % of male and 92.1 % of female respondents had tried alcohol and the bigger part of them (40.5%) had used alcohol 1-2 times a month. The most popular drink among girls is champagne ( 33.3 % ) and among boys – wine (50%). The examination of the smoking habits have shown that 79.7 % of girls and 83.8 % of boys have tried to smoke. 15.4% of girls and 33.5 % of boys have smoked 20-29 days during the last month. After examining the habits... [to full text]

Introduction: Adolescents in the United States use alcohol more than any other substance, including tobacco and marijuana. Continuing alcohol misuse has numerous adverse health effects and is linked to liver disease, cancer, cardiovascular disease and neurological damage. Furthermore, alcohol consumption is a significant risk factor for unsafe sexual behaviors, unintentional injuries, physical and sexual assaults, various types of illegal activities, and suicide (USDHHS, 2007). Aim: The purpose of this study is to compare the individual social indicators from 4 categories that have been identified within the literature as being particularly associated with alcohol consumption in general, and underage alcohol consumption in particular. The categories used were: drinking consequences, urbanicity, poverty, and alcohol outlet density. The social indicators in these categories will be compared in the 10 most-at-risk counties (MAR) and the 10 least-at-risk counties (LAR), and the 20 MAR counties and the 20 LAR counties, as they relate to underage alcohol consumption. Methods: The counties were identified in and data was obtained from Governor’s Cooperative Agreement State Incentive Planning and Development Grant: Social Indicator Study to Assess Substance Use Prevention Needs at the State and County Levels in Georgia. An independent 2-tailed t-test was conducted to compare the means of groups in both the 10 MAR/LAR counties and the 20 MAR/LAR counties. Results: Significant differences were observed in all of the individual indicators in the poverty and alcohol outlet density categories for both the 10 MAR/LAR counties and the 20 MAR/LAR counties. Discussion: There needs to be a more accurate, specific and efficient methods of data surveillance concerning underage drinking behavior. Further research should focus on urbanicity, poverty, and alcohol outlet density as they relate to underage alcohol consumption. There were differences observed between the MAR and LAR counties in all of the poverty alcohol outlet density indicators, and researchers and policy makers should pay special attention to these two areas when designing further research and prevention policies.

Visame pasaulyje susirūpinimą kelia vis prastėjanti jaunų žmonių sveikata. Šiandien studentų kūno kultūra ir sportas patiria krizę. Aukštosiose mokyklose gerokai sumažinus privalomų kūno kultūros pratybų, sumažėjo daugumos studentų fizinis aktyvumas. Tik pradėjus studijuoti, jau pirmaisiais studijų metais studentai praranda galimybę išsiugdyti reguliarių fizinių pratimų poreikį, kurį turėjo iki studijų. Visa tai sąlygoja studentų prastą mitybą, mažą fizinį aktyvumą, nemigą, nuovargį ir kt. (Genevičius, 1991). Hipotezė: Lietuvos sporto universiteto (toliau – LSU) studentų, studijuojančių su sveikatinimu susijusiose studijų programose, studijų metu didėja fizinis aktyvumas ir formuojasi nesveikos mitybos įpročiai. Darbo objektas: LSU studentų, studijuojančių su sveikatinimu susijusiose studijų programose, gyvensenos pokyčiai studijų metu. Darbo tikslas: Išsiaiškinti studentų, studijuojančių su sveikatinimu susijusiose studijų programose, gyvensenos pokyčius studijų metu. Darbo uždaviniai: 1. Įvertinti LSU pirmo ketvirto kurso studentų, studijuojančių su sveikatinimu susijusiose studijų programose, fizinį aktyvumą lyties aspektu. 2. Įvertinti LSU pirmo ketvirto kurso studentų, studijuojančių su sveikatinimu susijusiose studijų programose, mitybą ir mitybos įpročius lyties aspektu. 3. Įvertinti LSU pirmo ketvirto kurso studentų, studijuojančių su sveikatinimu susijusiose studijų programose, žalingų įpročių paplitimą lyties aspektu. 4. Įvertinti studentų gyvensenos pokyčių... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The actual concern in the worldwide is the continued deterioration of the young people’s health. It could be said that today students’ physical education and sport is in crisis at certain aspects. In the higher education institutions there were significantly reduced the physical education subjects and as a matter of fact the physical activity of the majority of the students were decreased. Starting their studies students at the very first year of the study are deprived of the opportunity to develop a regular exercises. Students’ nutrition becomes not well balanced also. It all leads to the poor diet, low physical activity, insomnia, fatigue and other (Genevičius, 1991). Hypothesis: Lithuanian Sports University (LSU) students, studying the health relating study programs, are facing increase physical activity and having unhealthy eating habits. The object of the research: The lifestyle changes during the studies of the LSU students, studying the health relating study programs. The aim of the research: To find out the lifestyle changes during the studies of the LSU students of the health relating study programs. The tasks of the research: 1. To evaluate LSU’s first-fourth year students’, studying the health relating study programs, physical activity by gender. 2. To evaluate LSU’s first-fourth year students’, studying the health relating study programs, diet and nutritional habits by gender. 3. To evaluate LSU’s first-fourth year students’ studying the health relating study... [to full text]

Aleksitimiški žmonės pasižymi silpnu gebėjimu kognityviai apdoroti ir reguliuoti emocijas, dėl to jiems yra sunku emocijas ir jausmus atskirti nuo kūno pojūčių, sunku jomis bendrauti, tokie žmonės pasižymi į išorę orientuotu mąstymu ir silpna vidine introspekcija. Šio tyrimo tikslas - nustatyti vyresnių klasių moksleivių aleksitimiškumo sąsajas su tabako rūkymu, alkoholinių gėrimų vartojimu ir požiūriu į juos bei šias medžiagas vartojančius asmenis. Tyrime dalyvavo 236 dviejų Jurbarko mokyklų vyresnių klasių moksleiviai (16-19 metų amžiaus) iš kurių rūkė 138 (42,30 %) moksleiviai, alkoholinius gėrimus vartojo 196 (60,1 %) moksleiviai. Tyrimo metu moksleiviai pildė savižinos klausimyną, sudarytą iš TAS-20 skalės, skirtos aleksitimiškumui matuoti, klausimų apie tabako rūkymo ir alkoholio vartojimo ypatybes ir skalių, skirtų požiūriui į tabako rūkymą, alkoholio vartojimą ir šias medžiagas vartojančius asmenis nustatyti. Tyrimo rezultatai parodė, kad rūkymas su aleksitimiškumu nesisieja, tačiau dažnesnis ir didesnio kiekio alkoholinių gėrimų vartojimas statistiškai reikšmingai siejasi su labiau išreikštu aleksitimiškumu berniukų tarpe. Taip pat nustatyta, kad anksčiau alkoholinius gėrimus pradedantys vartoti moksleiviai (berniukai iki 13 metų, mergaitės iki 14 metų) pasižymi labiau išreikštu alekstimiškumu ir prastesniu gebėjimu atpažinti emocijas ir jausmus. Aleksitimiškumas su požiūriu nesisiejo. / Alexithimics are described as having poor cognitive emotion processing and regulation. For that reason, alexithimics have difficulty identifying feelings and distinguishing between feelings and the bodily sensations of emotional arousal, difficulty in communicating emotions, and have external oriented thinking style and weak introspection. The aim of the study was to assess alexithymia associations with tobacco smoking, alcohol consumption and attitudes towards them and towards persons who consume these substances. The subjects of the study were 236 upperclassmen (age 16-19) from two schools in Jurbarkas. 138 (42,30 %) subjects smoked tobacco and 196 (60,1 %) consumed alcohol. Participants filled in a questionnaire composed of TAS-20 scale, questions about tobacco smoking, an evaluation of alcohol consumption, and an attitude scale towards tobacco and alcohol consumption and people who use these materials. The results of the study showed that there is no association between alexithymia and tobacco smoking. However, alcohol consumption has significant associations between alexithymia and frequent and larger quantities of alcohol consumption in the boy's sample. Also found was a significant association between alexithymia and early alcohol drinkers (for boys by 13 years old and for girls by 13 years old). These early alcohol drinkers also showed difficulty identifying feelings. This study showed no associations between alexithymia and the attitudes toward tobacco smoking... [to full text]

Some people develop problematic alcohol consumption. Explanations forthis have been proposed by the mediating influence of drinking motiveson the relationship between personality and alcohol use. The purpose ofthis study was to test whether such a mediating model can be applied to aSwedish population. Students (N=383) in Sweden answered aquestionnaire about personality, drinking motives, alcohol consumptionand alcohol-related problems. Mediation analysis was done to seewhether drinking motives could mediate the relationship betweenpersonality and alcohol outcomes for men and women. The resultsshowed that four paths of personality, drinking motives and alcohol canbe found in a Swedish population by using this mediational model.However, the model showed different paths for men and women. / En del människor utvecklar en problematisk alkoholkonsumtion.Förklaringar till detta har sökts i en medierande inverkan avdryckesmotiv i relationen mellan människors personlighet ochalkoholkonsumtion. Syftet med denna studie var att testa om en sådanmedierande modell går att tillämpa på en svensk population. Studenter(N=383) i Sverige besvarade en enkät om personlighet, dryckesmotiv,alkoholkonsumtion och alkohol-relaterade problem. Mediationsanalysergjordes för att se om dryckesmotiven skulle kunna medierarelationen mellan personlighet och alkoholutfall för män och kvinnor.Resultaten visade att fyra mönster av personlighet, dryckesmotiv ochalkohol i den medierande modellen går att finna på en svenskpopulation, dock olika för män och kvinnor.

Binge drinking as one of the alcohol consumption patterns, affects the quality of life of the drinker, significant others and the society in general. It contributes to negative social, economic and health effects on social support networks. This sub-study of the five year trans-disciplinary Alcohol study analysed the existing quantitative data of the Prospective Urban and Rural Epidemiology (PURE) study. The broad aim of the Alcohol study is to gain a better understanding of the alcohol consumption patterns and the causes and consequences of binge drinking amongst South African. The overarching aim of this sub-study was to identify the socioeconomic effects of binge drinking on support networks with a view to contributing to a development of a relevant, integrated and coherent strategy to address alcohol abuse and misuse in the selected areas of the study. The study adopted a mixed methods approach by combining the qualitative and quantitative paradigms to understand the phenomenon of binge drinking and its effects on support networks more adequately. A literature study was undertaken to firstly understand the broader context of the social aspects of alcohol abuse in South Africa, and secondly, to understand social support, social support networks and social network analysis in relation to binge drinking from a conceptual and theoretical framework. Unpacking of the concepts social support, social support networks and social network analysis provided a base to argue that social support networks are affected by binge drinking because the drinker and networks such as family and service providers are interrelated and interdependent. Relevant theoretical frameworks that support this view that person and environment are related and cannot be separated because one affects the other as well, were used to substantiate the argument. Binge drinking was further cross tabulated with other relevant variables to further understand the alcohol consumption patterns. The profile of social problems from the PURE data provided a picture of the challenges in the demarcated areas. As such poverty, low educational level and income were used as markers of socio-economic position. Having identified binge drinking as one pattern of alcohol consumption used in the communities, the study further identified the socio-economic effects experienced by support networks through semi-structured interviews with a schedule and focus groups. The family members and service providers as key informants were identified as support networks. The identified family support network representatives were children, spouse, parents and a sibling and they explained their experiences with a binge drinker. Specific themes of social support were used to describe their experiences of support. These themes are: types of support provided; recipient perception, reciprocal support and behaviour of the provider. The results indicated that support networks are negatively affected by binge drinking because social support is not provided as expected. Performance of roles is compromised and binge drinkers socially constructed views of being justified to abuse of alcohol in that they themselves were exposed to the same situation as children, thus the children are expected to accept their drinking and the socio-economic situation. The community support networks were interviewed to obtain information on the alcohol abuse and socio-economic conditions in the selected communities and to identify the intervention strategies employed to combat the alcohol abuse problems. Suggestions to enhance intervention strategies are proposed focusing on assessment of risk and risk environment, targeted interventions, multi-level synergistic intervention and multi-disciplinary roles and partnerships. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Social Work))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010.

Binge drinking as one of the alcohol consumption patterns, affects the quality of life of the drinker, significant others and the society in general. It contributes to negative social, economic and health effects on social support networks. This sub-study of the five year trans-disciplinary Alcohol study analysed the existing quantitative data of the Prospective Urban and Rural Epidemiology (PURE) study. The broad aim of the Alcohol study is to gain a better understanding of the alcohol consumption patterns and the causes and consequences of binge drinking amongst South African. The overarching aim of this sub-study was to identify the socioeconomic effects of binge drinking on support networks with a view to contributing to a development of a relevant, integrated and coherent strategy to address alcohol abuse and misuse in the selected areas of the study. The study adopted a mixed methods approach by combining the qualitative and quantitative paradigms to understand the phenomenon of binge drinking and its effects on support networks more adequately. A literature study was undertaken to firstly understand the broader context of the social aspects of alcohol abuse in South Africa, and secondly, to understand social support, social support networks and social network analysis in relation to binge drinking from a conceptual and theoretical framework. Unpacking of the concepts social support, social support networks and social network analysis provided a base to argue that social support networks are affected by binge drinking because the drinker and networks such as family and service providers are interrelated and interdependent. Relevant theoretical frameworks that support this view that person and environment are related and cannot be separated because one affects the other as well, were used to substantiate the argument. Binge drinking was further cross tabulated with other relevant variables to further understand the alcohol consumption patterns. The profile of social problems from the PURE data provided a picture of the challenges in the demarcated areas. As such poverty, low educational level and income were used as markers of socio-economic position. Having identified binge drinking as one pattern of alcohol consumption used in the communities, the study further identified the socio-economic effects experienced by support networks through semi-structured interviews with a schedule and focus groups. The family members and service providers as key informants were identified as support networks. The identified family support network representatives were children, spouse, parents and a sibling and they explained their experiences with a binge drinker. Specific themes of social support were used to describe their experiences of support. These themes are: types of support provided; recipient perception, reciprocal support and behaviour of the provider. The results indicated that support networks are negatively affected by binge drinking because social support is not provided as expected. Performance of roles is compromised and binge drinkers socially constructed views of being justified to abuse of alcohol in that they themselves were exposed to the same situation as children, thus the children are expected to accept their drinking and the socio-economic situation. The community support networks were interviewed to obtain information on the alcohol abuse and socio-economic conditions in the selected communities and to identify the intervention strategies employed to combat the alcohol abuse problems. Suggestions to enhance intervention strategies are proposed focusing on assessment of risk and risk environment, targeted interventions, multi-level synergistic intervention and multi-disciplinary roles and partnerships. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Social Work))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010.

The primary aim of the present investigation was to directly examine a theoretically-based, ecologically-valid intervention and proposed mechanism for reducing at risk men’s alcohol-related aggression toward women for the bar setting. This study was developed in response to a critical need to address barriers to interventions for alcohol-related. This literature called for research to empirically investigate (a) specific intervention techniques that reduce aggression, (b) in whom such interventions will have the greatest impact, and (c) the mechanisms that account for such effects. Results of this study evidenced that the attention-allocation model-inspired intervention, relative to control, was associated with less alcohol-related physical aggression toward a female confederate. This finding held for men who reported lower, but not higher, levels of masculine gender role stress. However, results of the study did not support the hypotheses that intoxicated men who received the intervention, relative to control, would display the lowest levels of negative cognition and that masculine gender role stress would moderate this effect. Thus, the present study successfully addressed two of the three barriers cited. Discussion focused on how these data inform intervention programming for alcohol-related aggression.

Darbo tikslas – išanalizuoti dvidešimtmečių alkoholio vartojimo aspektus. Dvidešimtmečiai vyrai dažniausiai vartoja alų (82,9 proc.) ir degtinę (77,1 proc.), moterys dažniausiai vartoja vyną (73,7 proc.), alkoholinius kokteilius (65,8 proc.) ir šampaną (64,6 proc.). Kartu su draugais alkoholinius gėrimus vartoja 94,3 proc. vyrų, 87,1 proc. moterų. Noras atsipalaiduoti alkoholį vartoti skatina 74,3 proc. vyrų ir 73,7 proc. moterų. Dažniausiai vyrai alkoholį vartoja kartą per savaitę (42,9 proc.), bendraujant su draugais (48,6 proc.), bei dažniau išleidžia daugiau pinigų alkoholiui(22,9 proc.). Moterys dažniausiai alkoholį vartoja kartą per mėnesį (43,8 proc.), švenčių metu (65,4 proc.) ir išleidžia mažiau pinigų alkoholiui (83,3 proc.). Dažniausiai vyrai (40 proc.) ir moterys (39,2 proc.) teigia, kad pagrindinė problema susijusi su alkoholio vartojimu yra sugadinti daiktai ar drabužiai. Taip pat 32,5 proc. moterų nurodo sveikatos pablogėjimą. Vieniši respondentai dažniausiai alkoholį vartoja namuose (72,8 proc.), su draugais (91,5 proc.), kurie labiausiai ir skatina juos vartoti alkoholį (24,1 proc.). Vieniši respondentai labiau įsitikinę (42,9 proc.), kad jiems reikėtų mažiau vartoti alkoholinių gėrimų. 13,4 proc. vienišų respondentų jaučia gėdą dėl alkoholinių gėrimų vartojimo įpročių. 31,3 proc. vienišų respondentų alkoholį vartoja dažniau – kartą per savaitę. Su partneriais gyvenantys respondentai dažniau alkoholį vartoja švenčių metu (67 proc.), jie labiau įsitikinę (83... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The aim of this study was to analyze the aspects of alcohol consumption among 20-yearold humans. The men in their twenties usually consumes beer (82.9 %) and vodka (77.1 %), while women tend to consume wine (73.7 %), alcoholic cocktails (65.8 %) and champagne (64.6 %). Together with friends the alcohol consumes 94.3 % of men and 87.1 % of women. The wish to relax promotes the use of alcohol in 74.3 % of men and 73.7 % of women. The men consume the alcohol mostly once a week (42.9 %) while communicating with friends (48.6 %), and often spend more money on alcohol (22.9 %) than women. Women usually consume alcohol once a month (43.8 %), on holidays (65.4 %) and spend less money on alcohol (83.3 %) than man. The large part of the men (40 %) and women (39.2 %) argue that the main reason associated with alcohol consumption are damaged items or clothing. Aggravation of health conditions may become the reason for alcohol consumtion in 32.5 % of women. Single respondents most frequently consumed the alcohol at home (72.8 %), with friends (91.5 %), who causes the main motivation for alcohol consumption (24.1 %). The large part of single respondents (42.9 %) are confident that they should reduce the amount of alcohol. 13.4 % of single respondents feel shame for alcohol consumption habits. 31.3 % of single respondents have the alcohol more frequently (once a week). Respondents living with partners have more alcohol during the holidays (67 %) and they are more confident (83 %) that they... [to full text]

O consumo de álcool tem sido considerado um problema de saúde pública. Entretanto, também existem evidências de eventuais benefícios do consumo leve a moderado de algumas bebidas alcoólicas, no que se refere a doenças crônicas não transmissíveis. As doenças periodontais, sendo a sexta doença crônica mais prevalente, também têm sido associadas ao consumo de álcool com resultados controversos. Esta tese avaliou, através de três artigos a relação entre consumo de álcool e doenças periodontais. O primeiro artigo de divulgação, tem por objetivo alertar a profissão a respeito do estado atual do conhecimento em relação a associação entre álcool e doenças periodontais. O segundo artigo é um estudo experimental em modelo animal que avaliou o efeito da dependência química álcool sobre desfechos periodontais. Os resultados não mostraram diferenças estatisticamente significativas na perda óssea alveolar e secreção de TNF-α. O terceiro artigo, também em modelo animal, abordou o consumo do vinho tinto e valeu-se de controles total, álcool a 12%, suco de uva e resveratrol. A análise de ocorrência de periodontite espontânea demonstrou que o vinho tinto tem potencial protetor para a perda óssea alveolar e secreção de TNF- α . Os resultados encontrados nessa tese são instigantes e estão em linha com a literatura que demonstra uma relação do tipo curva J entre álcool e doenças periodontais, na qual até um determinado nível, o fator comporta-se como protetor. Assim, essa relação deve ser considerada na abordagem clínica, sem incentivo ao consumo, mas compreendendo até onde este é tolerável e/ou benéfico no que se refere a doenças periodontais. / Alcohol consumption has been considered a public health problem. Otherwise, there is evidence of eventual benefits of a light to moderate consume of some alcoholic beverage, in relation to non-transmissible chronic disease. The periodontal diseases, being the sixth most prevalent chronic disease, also have been associated to alcohol consumption with controversial results. This thesis evaluated, through three articles the relationship between alcohol consumption and periodontal diseases. The first article has the objective of alerting the professionals about the actual knowledge about the relationship between alcohol and periodontal diseases. The second article is an experimental study in animal model which evaluated the alcohol dependence over periodontal outcomes. The results did not show statistically significant differences in alveolar bone loss and TNF- α secretion. The third article, also in animal model, studied the red wine consumption and used total controls, 12% alcohol, grape juice and resveratrol. The analysis of the occurrence of spontaneous periodontitis demonstrated that red wine has a protector potential for alveolar bone loss and TNF- α secretion. The results found in this thesis are curious and they are in line with the literature that demonstrates a relationship like J-curve between alcohol and periodontal diseases, until some level, the factor behave as protector. So, this relation must be considered in clinical approaches, without encouraging the consumption, but understanding how much is tolerable and/or benefit according to periodontal diseases.