Abstract
BackgroundSince divorce rates are on the rise in Lebanon (an increase of 101% between 2006 and 2017) and since previous international studies have shown a relationship between divorced parents and adolescents’ addiction to smoking, alcohol, and the internet, assessing the background of the Lebanese situation was deemed necessary. The study objective was to investigate the association between the divorce of parents and smoking, alcohol, and internet addiction among a representative sample of Lebanese adolescents.MethodsThis study was a cross-sectional, conducted between January and May 2019 using a proportionate random sample of schools from all Lebanese Mohafazat. Out of 2000 questionnaires distributed; 1810 (90.5%) were completed and collected back.ResultsThe mean age was 15.42 ± 1.14 years, with 53.3% females and 74.1% smokers. In addition, 11.9% [95% CI 0.104–0.134] of the adolescents had separated/divorced parents. Divorce in parents was significantly associated with higher alcohol use disorder (Beta = 8.035), higher cigarette dependence (Beta = 2.767) and a higher waterpipe dependence (Beta = 5.263) in adolescents. However, divorce in parents was not associated with internet addiction in adolescents.ConclusionParental divorce is correlated to higher alcohol and smoking, but not internet addiction among adolescents. Children whose parents are divorced should be subject to continuous follow-up by their parents and by a psychiatrist/psychologist in order not to develop an addiction that could potentially harm them.
Highlights
IntroductionSince divorce rates are on the rise in Lebanon (an increase of 101% between 2006 and 2017) and since previous international studies have shown a relationship between divorced parents and adolescents’ addiction to smoking, alcohol, and the internet, assessing the background of the Lebanese situation was deemed necessary
Since divorce rates are steadily growing in Lebanon [26, 27], and since previous international studies [11, 28,29,30,31] have shown a relationship between divorced parents and adolescents’ addiction to smoking, alcohol, and the internet, assessing the background of the Lebanese situation was deemed necessary
The results of the study showed that adolescents whose parents are divorced or separated were more likely to have hazardous alcohol disorder (HAD), greater dependence on cigarette and waterpipe, but not higher internet addiction
Summary
Since divorce rates are on the rise in Lebanon (an increase of 101% between 2006 and 2017) and since previous international studies have shown a relationship between divorced parents and adolescents’ addiction to smoking, alcohol, and the internet, assessing the background of the Lebanese situation was deemed necessary. The study objective was to investigate the association between the divorce of parents and smoking, alcohol, and internet addiction among a representative sample of Lebanese adolescents. Adolescents from nonintact families (defined as children who did not live with both biological parents at the end of childhood due to parental separation or single motherhood at birth) started alcohol drinking at a younger age and reported frequent and heavy drinking, and drunkenness compared to those from intact families [10]. In Lebanon, alcohol use during adolescence is high due to the ease of purchase (no age restriction, cheap price < 2$), and the lack of strict laws against alcohol [12]
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