The Prevalence and Perception of Drinking among Full-Time Slovak University Students in Relation to Socio-economic Determinants
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The use of legal and illegal drugs is currently considered as one of the most serious social problems. Experts are agreed that the groups most at risk, by threatening drugs, are young people.
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this paper was to measure the level and type of influence of selected socio-economic variables on alcohol use and attitudes toward alcohol among Slovak university students. METHODS: The data set was obtained on the basis of a questionnaire survey.
Data collection took place from December 2015 until the end of February 2016. Approximately 90% of questionnaires were completed in electronic form, others were filled in by hand.
SAMPLE: 748 students (290 males (38.8%) and 458 women (61.2%) full-time students at Slovak universities. RESULTS: On the basis of our results we can claim that, the sex of student is by far the most influential socio-economic characteristic of alcohol use, prevalence and opinions of risks connected with its use.
A lot of examined variables are dependent on sex e.g.: the age of first intoxication (p=0,001), number of alcohol consumptions during last year and during last month (p<0,001), number of beers and spirits consumed during last month (p<0,001), opinions of risks connected with alcohol use (p < 0,001) and also cumulative monthly alcohol consumption (p<0,001). All mentioned associations are in favour of female (they have got smaller alcohol consumption and they are more aware of the risks connected with alcohol use in comparison with male).
CONCLUSIONS: The sex of the student influences alcohol use prevalence and opinions of risks connected with alcohol use, relatively much more in comparison with other examined characteristics.