(886)DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH RISK BEHAVIORS AMONG ALBANIAN ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS: IMPLICATIONS FOR TEACHERS' AND PARENTS' EDUCATION PROGRAMS

摘要

Definition of the problem: Albania is facing rapidly increasing rates of health risk behaviors includingsmoking, substance use, and unprotected sex especially among adolescents and young adults. In thiscontext, health education especially during adolescence is becoming a priority;;hence severaleducational campaigns have been organized to inform on the negative outcomes of health riskbehaviors. Nonetheless, several studies have demonstrated that preventive efforts directly targetingadolescents and based on 'the fear' emotional response are not very effective. Studies investigatingpredictive variables of health behaviors rather suggest that several personal and social factors areinvolved. Adolescents might start health risk behaviors as coping strategies in a context where theiridentity is not fully formed, the orientation towards risk is strong, and the social context is notsupportive (e.g., authoritarian parenting style, peer pressure). Consequently these behaviors arestabilized in young adulthood, as a stable repertoire. This paper presents results from 4 researchstudies in Albania, investigating personal and social factors involved in health risk behaviors.Methodology and Results: Study 1 was conducted among 140 adolescents using two self-reportscales the Adolescent Questionnaire and the Adolescent Invulnerability Scale. Results suggested thatperceptions of invulnerability (a developmental feature of adolescence)are actually predictive ofsmoking, drinking, substance use, and engagement in sexual intercourse. Study 2 was conductedamong 459 adolescents using the Adolescent Alcohol and Drug Involvement Scale (AADIS)andIdentity Orientation Questionnaire. Results suggested that adolescents with a stronger orientationtowards personal identity (well established personal values, standards of behavior)were less likely touse substances as compared to their colleagues who were oriented towards other forms of identity(e.g., collective, social, religious identity etc.)Study 3 was conducted among 334 adolescents usingAADIS and the Parental Authority Questionnaire. Results showed that authoritative parental stylepredicted the index of substance use involvement;;also, gender and authoritative parenting stylepredicted individuals at risk for substance abuse. Finally study 4 was conducted among 565 youngadults and found that personal variables such as risk orientation, self-efficacy and social variablessuch as quality of social relationships, modeling and social norms were predictive of health riskbehaviors and health promoting behaviors too (e.g., physical activity, healthy diet etc.). Conclusions:These findings have implications for preventive/educational programs for health risk behaviors. Theseresults suggest that effective programs should focus on 'inoculating' adolescents and young adults, sothat they do not use health risk behaviors as coping strategies in the first place. Considering theextensive influence of parents and teachers on adolescents, they represent the two most importanttarget groups for educational programs. These programs might focus on healthy parenting styles,stress management techniques, processes of reorientation of risk behavior tendencies towards moreacceptable behavior, increasing self-efficacy etc.