Abstract
Aim: The present study aimed to investigate differences in smoking and binge drinking between adolescents with high and low levels of psychosomatic symptoms and explore the associations of adolescent smoking and binge drinking with self-reported psychosomatic symptoms in a large nationwide random school-based sample of Greek adolescents aged 12-18 years. Method: Adolescents with high levels of psychosomatic symptoms were compared in terms of smoking, binge drinking, gender, age and socio-economic status to their peers with lower levels of psychosomatic symptoms. In order to evaluate the multiple effects of adolescents’ smoking, binge drinking and socio-demographic features on psychosomatic symptoms, a multiple logistic regression model was constructed. Results: Adolescents with smoking and/or binge drinking practices reported higher levels of psychosomatic symptoms compared to peers with no experiences of such health-risk behaviours. Moreover, adolescents with smoking and/or binge drinking practices had an amplified risk for high levels of psychosomatic symptoms, revealing a significantly impaired psychosomatic functioning compared to abstainers. Conclusions: Professionals in school and clinical settings should be cautious for smoking and binge drinking practices when assessing adolescents with high levels of psychosomatic symptoms, so as early identification of at-risk individuals and timely, appropriate care planning is facilitated.
Highlights
Professionals in school and clinical settings should be cautious for smoking and binge drinking practices when assessing adolescents with high levels of psychosomatic symptoms, so as early identification of at-risk individuals and timely, appropriate care planning is facilitated
Adolescence has been considered a key formative period for health, since it is during this phase of human development that individuals enhance their self-awareness regarding their health and adopt health behaviours and lifestyle patterns that may extend into later life
Research evidence has suggested that psychosomatic symptoms and health-compromising behaviours are the first indicators of problems in both psychological and social development during adolescence [1]
Summary
Adolescence has been considered a key formative period for health, since it is during this phase of human development that individuals enhance their self-awareness regarding their health and adopt health behaviours and lifestyle patterns that may extend into later life. Research evidence has suggested that psychosomatic symptoms (e.g. headaches, backaches, irritability, difficulties in getting to sleep) and health-compromising behaviours are the first indicators of problems in both psychological and social development during adolescence [1]. Research exploring the relationship of psychosomatic symptoms with common health-risk behaviours, such as tobacco and alcohol use, is still meager [2, 3], even though international studies have documented alarming findings regarding the prevalence of psychosomatic symptoms, tobacco and excessive alcohol use among adolescents [4]. The aim of the present study was to explore the associations of adolescents’ psychosomatic symptoms with smoking and binge drinking behaviors in a large, nation-wide, school-based sample
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