Young Greeks Research Articles

The health gap and HRQoL inequalities in Greece before and during the economic crisis.

The aim of this study was twofold: (i) to assess the health gap among young socio-economic groups generated by the economic crisis in Greece and (ii) to investigate HRQoL (Health Related Quality of Life) inequalities using the Theil index. The EQ-5D-5L instrument was administered to a sample of 4,177 young individuals in Greece, mean age 22.3 (±SD 4.8) and 53.8% males, and 46.2% females. The Greek version of the EQ-5D-5L instrument was used in a web-based questionnaire to collect data. Subjects were asked to assess their subjective health status during the economic crisis of 2016 using the EQ-5D-5L instrument, and to recall their health before the crisis of 2009. The health gap was assessed on a Visual Analogue Scale (EQ-VAS), the EQ-5D-5L Index, and the five dimensions of the EQ-5D-5L instrument. Regression analysis was employed to measure the effects of the economic crisis on age, sex, education, and income on the EQ-VAS and EQ-5D-5L. Theil index was used to assess HRQoL inequalities. The economic crisis brought a significant deterioration in the HRQoL of young Greeks. The EQ-VAS was reduced during the crisis by -10.05% (p < 0.001) and the EQ-5D-5L index declined by -19.61% (p < 0.001). The prevalence of the health gap in each dimension of the EQ-5D-5L was also significant in terms of deterioration of Mobility [change by 66.8% (p < 0.001)], Self-care [change by 61.0% (p < 0.001)], Usual activities [change by 97.1% (p < 0.001)], Pain/discomfort [change by 65.0% (p < 0.001)], and Anxiety/depression [change by 70.5% (p < 0.001)]. Significant reductions in EQ-5D-5L indices were also associated with greater inequalities in the distribution of health among age, gender, income, and educational groups. The EQ-5D-5L health gap among the poor was much greater (0.198), in comparison to richer (0.128) classes. Similar gaps were also found in terms of educational inequalities. The EQ-5D-5L health gap among those with primary education was 0.211, whereas for those with tertiary education it was 0.16. The Theil index indicated an increase in income-related HRQoL inequalities by 222.3% for the EQ-5D-5L index and by 124.2% for the EQ-VAS. The effects of demographic and socioeconomic variables on the EQ-VAS were found statistically significant: sex (p < 0.05), age (p < 0.001), education (p < 0.001), and income (p < 0.001). The EQ-5D-5L instrument appears to be a powerful tool in assessing the health gap and the HRQoL inequalities among young people in Greece. The findings indicate the importance of developing effective health policies to combat inequalities and mitigate the impact of austerity measures on the quality of life of the young.

Young Greeks’ Social Representation of Protest: Dialogical Structure and Ideological Function

Young Greeks’ Social Representation of Protest: Dialogical Structure and Ideological Function

Depression and anxiety symptoms in adolescents and young adults in Greece: Prevalence and associated factors

Few studies have investigated depression-anxiety in adolescents/young adults in Greece. We examined the prevalence of depression/anxiety and its correlates in a large, representative, population-based sample of young Greeks. A structured telephone questionnaire was conducted in 2771 adolescents/young adults aged between 15 and 24 years (mean age: 20.47 ± 2.83 years). Depression/anxiety symptoms were assessed using the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scales, respectively. Sociodemographics, mental health, and psychological parameters were also examined. Moderate to severe depression and anxiety symptoms were defined with PHQ-9≥10 and GAD-7≥10, respectively. Analysis was conducted using multivariable linear and logistic regression models. In our sample, 803 (29%) and 416 (15%) participants reported depressive and anxiety symptoms, respectively. In multivariable analysis, depression was associated with female sex, younger age, mental health history, substance use, dyslexia, lower quality of life and social seclusion (all p < 0.05). Within youth with mental health history, depression was associated with younger age, female sex, dyslexia, attention difficulties, and substance use (p < 0.05). Multivariable analysis revealed similar to depression associations between anxiety and sociodemographic and clinical correlates. Mental health history plus attention/learning problems and substance use was associated with a 57% chance of being depressed. Neither depression nor anxiety was associated with unemployment/low income. Due to cross-sectional design, causality between correlated factors cannot be examined. Depression and anxiety symptoms among youth in Greece are frequent and associated more with previous mental health history and co-existing attention/ learning difficulties, and substance use, rather than known socioeconomic factors. These results may affect preventive health strategies’ priorities.

Education Inequalities and Political Behaviour of the Young in Greece in the 2010s 1

In this paper we briefly address two issues related to the living conditions of youth in Greece and the way these conditions have changed during the 2010s. The first is about the educational trajectories of young Greeks which are leading to less promising prospects in the labour market and become increasingly unequal and socially selective during the crisis. The second issue is the political response of young Greeks to the crisis. There is evidence that they have been actively mobilized against austerity measures and, at the same time, they have increased their participation in the political system, both in confrontational and institutional politics. Inequalities are increasing and social mobility prospects for the young people are deteriorating. Their political response, however, is an outcome depending on many other factors with the politics of parties attractive to youngsters’ aspirations during the crisis being among the most important.

757 Associations Between Sleep Complaints, Suicidal Ideation and Depression Among Adolescents and Young Adults in Greece

Abstract Introduction Suicide risk begins to increase among adolescents and young adults representing the leading cause of death in this age group. The aim of this study was to assess associations between sleep complaints, suicidal ideation and depression in a large, representative sample of adolescents and young adults of the general population in Greece. Methods A structured telephone questionnaire was conducted in a representative sample of 2.741 young Greeks aged 15–24 years, including sociodemographic variables, life-style habits, and substance use. symptoms were assessed using the PhQ-9. Suicidal ideation and sleep complaints, i.e. insomnia/ hypersomnia symptoms, were assessed based on the relevant questions of the PhQ-9 questionnaire. We conducted a direct and indirect effect analysis between the modified PhQ-7 scale, sleep complaints and suicidality controlling for gender, family income, education and substance use. Results In our sample prevalence of suicidal ideation was 7.8%, while 47.9% reported sleep complaints. The mean PhQ-7 score was 6.15±4.11. The direct paths from depression to sleep, as well as from sleep to ideation were both statistically significant with p-values &amp;lt;0.001. Indirect mediation analysis revealed a significant indirect effect of depression on ideation mediated by sleep complaints as indicated by the sobel test (z=3.59, p=0.0003). This is a partial mediation given that the direct effect of depression on ideation controlling for sleep (the mediator) remains significant (p&amp;lt;.001). The percentage of the effect of depression on ideation accounted for by the indirect effect through sleep is estimated at 16.5%. The mediation remains significant (p&amp;lt;.001) after controlling for income, gender, education, and substance use. Conclusion Our study supports that among youth there is direct associations between depression, sleep complaints and suicidal ideation. Furthermore, we found an indirect effect of depression on suicidal ideation mediated by sleep complaints. Our findings highlight the presence of complex interactions between subjective psychiatric symptoms and perceived sleep problems to account for suicidal ideation Therefore, treatment of sleep among youth with depression may significantly independently further reduce suicidal risk. Support (if any) EEA/Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2009–2014, under Project Contract n° EEA Grants/ GR07- 3757

The parental home as labor market insurance for young Greeks during the Great Recession

AbstractLabor market conditions in Greece have severely deteriorated during the crisis, affecting youths the most. Using the Greek crisis as a case-study, this paper examines the role of the family as a social safety net for its young members. Specifically, we test the relationship between youth labor outcomes and parental co-residence, whether this relationship has become stronger during the crisis, and the degree to which the relationship is causal. Our results confirm that the parental home is a refuge both for jobless youth and for those in poorly paid, insecure jobs, and this role has intensified during the crisis. We find no reverse causality between co-residence and employment status for young men, and significant reverse causality for women. This finding implies that all youths live in the parental home when they are in need themselves, but it is young women not men who live with parents when parents are in need or for cultural reasons.

NEET status among young Greeks: Association with mental health and substance use

BackgroundPrior studies have shown that young people “not in education, employment or training” (“NEET”) are at higher risk for psychopathology and substance abuse. Similar studies are lacking in Southern European populations. We aimed to examine the associations of anxiety and depressive symptoms, and substance use with NEET status in a large, randomized population-based sample in Greece. MethodsA telephone structured questionnaire was conducted in a representative sample of 2771 young Greeks aged 15–24 years. Anxiety and depressive symptoms were assessed with GAD-7 and PHQ-9 scales, respectively. Substances use and several sociodemographic parameters were also examined. ResultsIn our sample 16.4% were NEETs. In multivariate analyses, NEETs compared to non-NEETs were older, with lower family income, without insurance and more likely to be married and smoke. Furthermore, NEET status was associated with a higher GAD-7 score among older NEETs and long-term NEETs (NEETs unemployed for more than a year). Moreover, being NEET among older participants was associated with severe symptoms of anxiety and moderate/severe symptoms of depression. LimitationsThis was a telephone survey and a clinical evaluation of the patients was not performed. Furthermore, the structured interview was not designed to detect the level of substance use or the reasons for being NEET. ConclusionsNEET status is frequent among young Greeks. Older, and long-term NEETs appear to be at higher risk for presenting anxiety/depression symptoms. Whether NEET status is associated with adverse outcomes later in life requires longitudinal studies.

Reception and Perception of May 1968 in Greece

How is May ’68 received in the public space? How has it been perceived in the collective consciousness in Greece since that day? To investigate the image of May ’68 portrayed by the mass media (public space) and the idea that young Greeks have of it today (collective memory), I relied on three categories of sources: i) Analysis of the texts referring to the events; ii) Interviewing former students who participated in the uprising against the Dictatorship at the Polytechnic in 1973; and iii) Discussions with today’s students to see whether or not they have an image of May ’68, and if so, what it is. This paper is made up of five sections. In the first I provide an overview of the situation in Greece in 1968, in the second I briefly set out the main positions on May ’68 of well-known French social scientists, and in the third I discuss how the period was perceived and the weight of its role in the uprising of Greek students at the Polytechnic in 1973. In the fourth section I paint a brief picture of how May ’68 has been viewed in Greece from the fall of the dictatorship in 1974 to today. Finally, in the fifth and final section, I summarise how today’s students perceive the events.

Modeling the propensity to join carsharing using hybrid choice models and mixed survey data

Carsharing combines the positive elements of both private and public transportation. This feature renders it attractive to a significant percentage of the population, especially younger people who do not own a car. To maximize the effectiveness of such systems, the characteristics of potential users have been investigated in this research.The propensity of people to join a carsharing scheme is being modeled using mixed data collected from Internet and paper surveys. An ordered logit model is developed to model the willingness of young Greeks to join carsharing. Several types of explanatory variables are used, including demographic characteristics and travel attributes, but also the satisfaction of the commuters about their current travel patterns, which is included as latent attitude in the modeling framework. The combination of the two datasets aims to measure the difference of the variance of the error term, generated from the paper and Internet respondents; the latter are prone to be more positive in their responses, possibly in order to satisfy the interviewer. This is verified in the current research by the positive sign of the scale parameter applied at the utility function of the Internet-based data. The use of latent classes enhances the model estimation, by measuring the parameters that determine the respondents' unobserved, underlying behaviors.The results demonstrate that people who use taxi for social activities, those with medium to low income, and the environmentally conscious, are more willing to join a hypothetical carsharing scheme. The results are compared with a 2013 study, in order to identify the advantages of using this advanced modeling framework.

Economic crisis and youth unemployment: Comparing Greece and Ireland

Both Greece and Ireland have long suffered high youth unemployment rates and have been pressured to restructure their employment and social systems under the European Employment Strategy. Problems were aggravated by the harsh conditions imposed by the Troika following bail-outs. Yet there was significant divergence in youth employment outcomes between Greece and Ireland despite a convergence of policies. In Ireland, tighter conditionality of benefits and stronger ‘activation’ were already on the agenda of the social actors, so their implementation was not forcefully contested. In Greece, the lack of effective social protection made it difficult for successive governments to build support for flexibilization, and the escalating insecurity of young Greeks and their families gave rise to social unrest and political instability. This contrast leads to a reappraisal of the convergence–divergence debate.

Post-materialism in Greece and the Events of December 2008

The events that occurred in December 2008 in Greece were unprecedented in scope, size, duration, and extent in the use of violence, while also being unexpected not only by the state but also by social movement actors. In spite of the importance of the December events, however, the factors that shaped them remain largely unclear. This paper examines the interpretations suggested so far and argues that the overlooked factor of value change among young Greeks played a crucial role in the making of December 2008. Drawing upon the data of the Eurobarometer and the World Values Survey, I show that values are changing fast in Greece towards post-materialism, meaning more emphasis on the quality of life rather than material well-being, and argue that the December events, especially their most creative side, can be best explained in the context of post-materialism. An analytical framework that places emphasis on the discursive formation of the activist subjects rather than on the abstract political/economic causes of the uprising not only provides a better understanding of the events but also relates them to political developments in their aftermath.

Attitudes Towards Music as a Means of Therapy: Can It Help to Overcome Depression and/or Cardiovascular Disease?

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Sexual and Emotional Values: Their Position in the Evaluation Codes of Young Greeks, and their Projection through Television Series Aimed at Young Viewers

Friendship, love, erotic relations, altruism, sexuality, φιλότιμο (pride), sincere relationships, and humor all occupy prominent positions in the value systems of young Greeks. There is both an orientation and hierarchical structure to these factors, especially as they relate to emotional and sexual type. Gender, age, and social background are variables that appear to be independent of these factors. Nevertheless, there are some important differences relating to eros (έρωτας, passionate/romantic love), sexuality and love. An investigation of the frequency with which values of emotional and sexual type are projected through a Greek and an American television series aimed at young viewers reveals that that these values comprise the focal point of the television myths and correlate with the kind of values young viewers adopt.

Adiponectin Gene Polymorphisms in Obese Greek Youth

We investigated single nucleotide polymorphisms 45T --> G and 276G --> T of the adiponectin gene in 48 obese Greek children and adolescents (3.58-16.25 years old) and examined their association with adiponectin levels and insulin resistance (IR), estimated with HOMA-IR, AUC(insulin) and WBISI. The polymorphisms were: 45T/G in 13/48 (27%) and 45G/G in 2 (4%) individuals; 276G/T in 21/41 (51%) and 276T/T in 3 (8%) individuals. Adiponectin in carriers of one or two G-alleles at position 45 was comparable to 45T/T (10.11 +/- 6.19 vs 8.03 +/- 4.96 microg/ml). Adiponectin in carriers of one or two T-alleles at position 276 was comparable to 276G/G (9.73 +/- 5.19 vs 7.77 +/- 5.65 microg/ml). SNP 45T --> G was not associated with IR. SNP276G --> T was associated with decreased risk for IR (OR = 3.05, 95% CI = 1.2384-11.13). In conclusion, SNPs 45T --> G and 276G --> T are common in obese young Greeks. SNP276G --> T might be protective against IR.

Heartscore calculated in individuals younger than 40 years is related to vascular markers of early atherosclerosis

Heartscore is not well validated for individuals less than 40 years of age. In the latest guidelines a relative risk chart is provided with the proposal to be used for young adults aged less than 60 years instead of projecting risk at the age of 60 years. Moreover, coronary artery disease is insidiously manifested in younger patients. Cross-sectional study. Two hundred and two young Greeks of age less than 40 years and 232 middle-aged adults aged 40-60 years without clinically overt cardiovascular disease or diabetes were consecutively recruited. Flow-mediated dilatation of the brachial artery, carotid, and femoral intima media thickness (IMT), carotid-radial and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) were measured in all individuals in one session. The European Society of Cardiology online Heartscore calculator was used for mortality risk (MR) 60 and Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation risk charts for relative risk (RR) computation. MR60 in the younger significantly correlated with all measured vascular markers whereas RR significantly correlated with carotid IMT. By multivariate regression analysis, MR60 was a stronger identifier than RR for PWV, mean carotid and femoral IMT in both groups. Young adults (<40 years) with a high MR60 (>5%) had significantly higher carotid-radial PWV, carotid and femoral IMT whereas those with a high RR (>3rd tertile) had significantly higher carotid IMT. MR60 was a stronger identifier of most of the measured markers of early atherosclerosis as compared with RR. These data support Heartscore as a prognostic tool in terms of primary prevention for participants younger than 40 years old.

Effects of chronic smoking on exercise tolerance and on heart rate-systolic blood pressure product in young healthy adults

Smoking is a major cause of cardiovascular disease and mortality. Smoking-related deaths in Greece account for 23%, whereas 41% of young Greeks are smokers, the highest percentage in Europe. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of chronic smoking on the rate-pressure product and exercise tolerance in young, healthy male smokers. Forty-two smokers and 51 nonsmokers were selected from a population of 543 students based on their age, sex, body mass index, physical fitness, smoking habit and health status. All participants were tested with the standard Bruce treadmill protocol. The rate-pressure product was obtained at rest and during exercise at a given submaximal workload. The evaluation of exercise tolerance was based on peak workload achieved and maximal exercise test duration. The smokers had a higher rate-pressure product at rest (P<0.001) due to their higher resting heart rate (P<0.001). Resting values of blood pressure did not differ significantly between the two groups. During exercise, smokers had a greater rate-pressure product (P<0.001), mainly due to their significantly higher systolic blood pressure (P=0.008). The smokers had a higher submaximal heart rate (P=0.005), but the differences in heart rate between groups were reduced for smokers during exercise when compared to rest. The smokers' exercise tolerance was impaired and their maximal exercise test duration time was significantly shorter (P<0.001). Chronic smoking was found to affect young male smokers' cardiovascular fitness, impairing the economy and decreasing the capacity of their circulatory system.

Patterns of injuries and motor-vehicle traffic accidents in Athens

The extremely high cost of motor-vehicle accidents in public health leads to the necessity of a better injury data collection in the Accident and Emergency Hospital Departments. The ‘Asclepeion’ of Voula Hospital covers the southeastern suburban areas of the greater Athens area (1 000 000 population). The aim of this study is to present information on the pattern of injuries in Athens, in order to understand the magnitude of the problem and develop rational prevention programmes. Specially trained health visitors of the Emergency Department Injury Surveillance System (EDISS) interviewed in person every injured victim who was brought into the Emergency Service of the ‘Asclepeion’ of Voula Hospital. The study was performed during a 3-year period, from 1996 to 1998; 4564 persons were interviewed. Traffic accidents were more frequent on weekdays with a seasonal peak in July and among young Greeks (aged 25 – 34 years). The usual type of injuries seen in vehicle-accident victims were cerebral contusion and concussion, while in motorcycle-accident victims, head contusion and fractures. The most common reasons for the accident were excessive speed, poor condition of road, inattention, abstraction or drowsiness and drug effects. A total of 29.8% of motorcycle drivers and 5.7% of motorcycle passengers wore a helmet and 26.3% of car drivers and 14.1% of car passengers were using seatbelts. The identification of road traffic injury patterns can contribute to the development of injury prevention measures and guide rational preventive interventions that can reduce the incidence of these injuries. The EDISS system established at ‘Asclepeion’ of Voula Emergency Service can provide useful and accurate information about this serious and multidimensional problem of Greek Public Health.

Plagiarism Persists in News despite Changing Attitudes

Well into the 1990s, it was common for reporters and editors to copy one another. Today, plagiarism is almost universally condemned, yet eliminating all plagiarism may be impossible.

Narrative positioning and the construction of situated identities

The present paper is a study of narrative and its relation to the construction of conflicting identities in interaction. The paper is concerned with a group of young Greeks who categorise themselves as members of a particular subculture, but also construct a number of other, often conflicting, identities through the stories they tell in the course of their conversations with two researchers. By focusing on the many narratives these people volunteer to recount to the researchers, the paper aims to delve into narrative positioning and its relation to the plurality of emerging identities in the specific encounters. Particular emphasis is placed on the young people's attempt to delegitimate established figures of power and authority in order to legitimate their own group and present a positive image of themselves. By providing a detailed discussion of identities as constructed in situated discourse, the paper also aims to stress the dynamics of identity construction in context. (Narrative positioning identity construction, Plurality of identities In-group relations, Delegitimation, Category affiliation)

Working students at Greek universities

PurposeGreece has the highest youth unemployment rate in the European Union. Even though it is clear that persistent unemployment requires bold measures in engaging young educated Greeks in the labour market, there is no coherent policy targeting that population group, especially university students. This research paper aims to explore the idea of restructuring the internal labour market in Greek universities by expanding services and offering part‐time job positions to their students.Design/methodology/approachIn assessing the feasibility of such a project a survey was conducted involving 237 undergraduate students majoring in business management and 22 administrative executives at the University of Macedonia, Greece.FindingsThe survey's main findings indicate that there is a tendency to match job openings with skills supplied by students in a work‐school programme focused on campus part‐time jobs.Research limitations/implicationsA large‐scale national survey involving students from various academic disciplines and executives from different universities would result in a more informed discussion on institutions that promote youth employment.Originality/valueThis study has shown that a work‐study programme promoting work opportunities on campus is plausible in Greece and might have great value for key stakeholders – students and universities.