Citation

Arvanitidou M, Tirodimos I, Kyriakidis I, Tsinaslanidou Z, Seretopoulos D. Am. J. Drug Alcohol Abuse 2007; 33(3): 411-417.

Affiliation

Laboratory of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/00952990701315384

PMID

17613968

Abstract

AIM OF THIS STUDY: To obtain data on alcohol consumption among school children of secondary education and to investigate any correlation to their health behaviors and parental socioeconomic status. METHODS: A questionnaire was distributed to students from a representative sample of 15 schools from Thessaloniki, the second (after Athens) largest metropolitan city of Greece. A total of 1185 students (505 males, 680 females) participated. RESULTS: 286 males (56.6%) and 329 females (48.4%) reported consuming alcohol. The initiation of drinking was at the age of 13.2 years for boys and 13 years for girls. Alcohol drinking was positively associated with socio-demographic variables and negative health behaviors such as parental low level of education, lack of physical exercise, coffee consumption, and smoking. CONCLUSIONS: Although our results show a decrease in alcohol use, which is more pronounced in male students, the prevalence of frequent alcohol consumption is among the highest in Europe's countries.

Language: en