Dimitrova Elitsa, Alexandrova-Karamanova Anna
Institute for Population and Human Studies-Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria.
Children (Basel). 2024 Aug 20;11(8):1016. doi: 10.3390/children11081016.
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study aims to explore family dynamics and the economic hardships experienced by families during the COVID-19 pandemic and their associations with adolescents' health risk behaviours (HRBs).
Based on a representative study of adolescents aged 11-16 conducted in Bulgaria during the COVID-19 pandemic and HBSC data from the pre-pandemic period, logistic regression models were applied, assessing cigarette smoking, vaping, alcohol use, drunkenness, and cannabis use. The independent variables included demographics, Family Affluence Scale (FAS III), family structure, ease of communication with parents, and the authors' developed questions on parents' income and economic status change, family conflicts, and missing contact with extended family due to the pandemic.
Material status of the family showed increasing differentials in adolescents' HRBs during the pandemic. Parental unemployment, income reduction, and temporary lay-offs were associated with a higher risk of substance use. Family conflicts, missing contact with extended family, and difficulties in communication with the mother were related to a higher risk of substance use. Communication with the father was significantly associated with alcohol use and drunkenness. Boys had lower odds of vaping and higher odds of alcohol use, drunkenness, and cannabis use. Higher age and minority status were associated with an increase in adolescents' HRBs.
This study highlights the need for special family-focused interventions in times of health and economic crises.
背景/目的：本研究旨在探讨新冠疫情期间家庭动态以及家庭所经历的经济困难，及其与青少年健康风险行为（HRB）之间的关联。
基于在保加利亚新冠疫情期间对11至16岁青少年进行的一项代表性研究以及疫情前时期的健康行为学校儿童（HBSC）数据，应用逻辑回归模型，评估吸烟、吸电子烟、饮酒、醉酒和使用大麻的情况。自变量包括人口统计学特征、家庭富裕程度量表（FAS III）、家庭结构、与父母沟通的难易程度，以及作者编写的关于父母收入和经济状况变化、家庭冲突以及因疫情与大家庭失去联系的问题。
在疫情期间，家庭物质状况在青少年的健康风险行为方面显示出越来越大的差异。父母失业、收入减少和临时裁员与物质使用风险较高有关。家庭冲突、与大家庭失去联系以及与母亲沟通困难与物质使用风险较高有关。与父亲的沟通与饮酒和醉酒显著相关。男孩吸电子烟的几率较低，而饮酒、醉酒和使用大麻的几率较高。年龄较大和少数族裔身份与青少年健康风险行为的增加有关。
本研究强调在健康和经济危机时期需要开展以家庭为重点的特殊干预措施。
