Search

The aim of the article is to discuss the importance of using the group method in the functioning of probation centers. The group work method is a certain challenge for probation officers, but it is also associatedwith a number of benefits for their educational and social rehabilitation activities. I am trying to present the organizational and methodical effort related to the implemented educational and social rehabilitation interactionsthrough a group in probation centers. The article is theoretical and consists an analysis of the available literature on the subject in the context of selected opportunities and challenges faced by probation officers working in probation centers.

The author of these studies set himself three goals: to analyze the existing and functioning models of upbringing, their impact on the functioning of an individual in a family environment, in a group and in society. Another of the planned effects of the analysis of available sources is the definition of the factors determining the etiology of the negation of all values as a space for alienation of a young person, his reaction to loneliness and alienation from the awareness of social exclusion, which is based on the lack of responsible parenthood. The third and last goal of this studies is the analysis and evaluation of the problem existing in schools and institutions for minors, which is undoubtedly violence and aggression, where we only see a crying games, for example - action in an educational institution "Week without violence", "Stop aggression", installing cameras in front of the building or inside it. From a practical point of view, it is only silencing the problem in the media with the approval of the leading body, which has allocated the necessary funds for this purpose, many times financing meetings with specialists as part of preventive measures. However, directing all attention to strictly prophylactic measures does not bring the intended effect. The attention should be directed to victims who show anxiety at the very thought of going to school and on the perpetrators who feel with impunity due to the lack of response from the institution.

Copyright of Aesthetics & Ethics of Pedagogical Action is the property of Poltava V.G. Korolenko National Pedagogical University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Postscriptum Polonistyczne is the property of Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Slaskiego and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper discusses the challenges of researching peer groups through a multi-focal, temporal lens in a retrospective manner. Embedded in a broader “Peer Groups & Migration” Qualitative Longitudinal Study (QLS), the article focuses on recruiting young respondents (aged 19-34 at present) who originally come from one of the three medium-sized towns in Polish localities and are either migrants or stayers connected to mobile individuals. The respondents are tracked retrospectively and asked to discuss their adolescence, as well encouraged to provide contacts to their youth Peer Group members. Based on fieldwork experiences and field access challenges, four models of recruiting migrants’ high school peer groups are presented. Furthermore, variants and rationales of non-recruitment are also provided. Focusing on the process of establishing a long-term and large-scale peer panel in the QLS, the paper contributes detailed know-how and strategies around participant recruitment.

Aim of the study: An analysis of the correlation between experiencing peer violence and suicidal behaviours with regard to relationships with parents. Material and methods: The study included 43 girls (aged between 12 and 16 years) admitted to the Department of Paediatrics at the Prof. Antoni Gębala Children’s Hospital in Lublin due to suicidal attempts. The study group consisted of 17 girls who experienced peer violence, while the control group included 26 girls who attempted suicide for other reasons than peer violence. A sociodemographic questionnaire and a metric survey of own design, in which the girls specified the intensity of a given feature on a scale of 1–10, were used. Results: There were statistically significant differences between girls experiencing peer violence vs. control group in terms of the feeling of being unloved by parents (p

There are parallels between three movements that blossomed during the first decades of the twentieth century: Marxism, Zionism and psychoanalysis. Utopian elements were present in all three, expressing a deep commitment to improving human life, but also aspects of denial and illusion that led to more complex results than initially expected. Rescue fantasies played a role in these movements, implying omnipotence, self-idealization and the demonization of a guilty party. The kibbutz movement in Israel was influenced by all three, and its communal childrearing system proved to be flawed. Dangers of rigidity and dogmatism in psychoanalysis are related to this background. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The answer to the question to what extent depressive symptoms which occur in the middle and late adolescence period affect the quality of life in adulthood., Methods: The sample group consisted of 308 adults out of 3,445 who had participated in a 2000 study of prevalence of depressive symptoms among students. 17 years later, letters were sent to all study participants with information about the purpose of the study and an original questionnaire, with quality of life and quality of social network scales (the Collaborative Research on Ageing in Europe Social Network Index - COURAGE-SNI and WHOQOL-AGE) attached., Results: The presence of depressive symptoms in the untreated population of adolescents is associated, in the case of women, with poorer education and fewer opportunities to work in adulthood compared to their non-depressive peers. In contrast, the men who were not depressive in adolescence take jobs in which they are more likely to earn a high income. An analysis of the quality of life showed statistically significant differences between men and women. In the group of non-depressive men, greater satisfaction with owned financial resources was observed. In the case of adult women, those who had been depressive in adolescence declared a sense of lower overall quality of life and satisfaction with the way of spending free time, satisfaction with achievement of life goals and owned financial means. Non-depressive women presented higher quality of social networks 17 years later., Conclusions: Long-term observation in our prospective study supports the hypothesis of a developmental character of adolescent depression.

Objectives: Assessment of predictive value of the occurrence of depressive symptoms during adolescence. For this purpose,the life history of untreated adolescents screened for the presence of depressive symptoms was assessed twice, at intervals of fifteen years, including an assessment of their health history, their family-related, occupational, material and social situation. The comparison of the fate of depressive adolescents with the fate of their non-depressive peers was aimed at answering the question about the influence of adolescent depression on health in adulthood., Methods: In 1985, a random sample of 1,035 people - students aged 15 and 17 - was examined for a screening diagnosis of adolescent depression. The Krakow Depression Inventory (KID) questionnaires version for 15-year-olds ("IOB1") and for 17-year-olds ("IOC1") were used. After 15 years, data on 238 people (23%) were obtained. In 2015, responses were obtained from 101 people (9.8% of those surveyed in 1985)., Results: An analysis of the results of a 30-year prospective study of the relationship between depressiveness in adolescence, in untreated adolescents, and the health and functioning in adulthood indicates that, contrary to predictions, the appearance of depression in this phase of development cannot be treated as a predictor of mental disorders later in life., Conclusions: Long-term observation in our prospective study supports the hypothesis of a developmental character of adolescent depression.

Objectives: The aim of the study is to investigate the views of adolescents aged 16-19, attending public high schools in Warsaw, on effectiveness of suicide prevention., Methods: The studied population covered adolescents aged 16-19 back in 2015 (M = 17.29; SD = 0.94). The respondents attended eight public high schools in Warsaw in eight different districts. The study group was representative. 1,439 respondents participated in the study - 821 girls (57.1%) and 592 boys (41.1%). PAPI method was used in the conducted study. The questionnaire consisted of 34 questions., Results: In most cases respondents did not know whether there was an organized system of suicide prevention in Poland (42.0%), however, a large proportion of the respondents (39.7%) was aware of nonexistence of such a system in Poland. The respondents considered the activity of a school (46.7%), the Church (38.3%) and the police (55.9%) in the field of suicide prevention ineffective, the activity of health care institutions (47.7%) and the media (46.6%) hardly effective, while the family was considered effective (70.9%). Persons who perceive significant role of the Church in suicide prevention at the same time indicate considerable share of the family and a much lesser role of the remaining institutions., Conclusions: 1) More than . of studied adolescents realize that there is no integrated system of suicide prevention; 2) The family, according to high school students, plays the greatest role in preventing self-destructive behaviors; 3) There is a need of greater involvement of schools, the Church, the police, health care institutions and the media in education and raising adolescents' awareness in the field of self-destructive behaviors.`.

Objectives: The aim of this paper was to identify the opinions of adolescents aged 16-19, attending public high schools in Warsaw, on the risk factors of suicide., Methods: The study group consisted of adolescents who were aged 16-19 in the year 2015 (M = 17.29; SD = 0.94). The respondents attended eight public high schools in Warsaw, from eight different districts of the city. The study group was representative. 1,439 respondents participated in the study -821 girls (57.1%) and 592 boys (41.1%). PAPI method was used in the conducted study. The questionnaire consisted of 34 questions divided into three sections - concerning epidemiology, risk factors and prevention of suicidal behaviors., Results: According to 37.0% of respondents, the main problem occurring in a family that could become a risk factor in committing suicide is lack of understanding from the parents. The respondents indicated that conflicts between peers are school-related situations that could be the source of suicidal thoughts (48.6%). More than half of respondents (59.1%) believed that being rejected by close and important persons was the main factor related to the feeling of loneliness that could contribute to a suicidal act., Conclusions: 1) An important element in the prevention of self-destructive behaviors of young people should be parental training in understanding and accepting their children. 2) Itis advisable to conduct classes developing psycho-social skills of adolescents, in particular their ability to solve interpersonal problems, in order to reduce the number of conflicts with peers that occur in the school environment.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of self-injury among adolescents aged 16-19 years and to indicate demographic variable, selected environmental variables and risky behaviours coexisting with performing self-injuries by the respondents., Methods: The research encompassed 5,685 individuals, aged 16-19 years. During the research the Questionnaire designed by the authors was used., Results: Significant statistical differences were found between the number of adolescents performing self-injury and those who do not perform it, who use psychoactive agents, make suicide attempts, get drunk, run away from home, report conflicts with their parents, experience parental violence and peer violence and report alcohol addictions by family members., Conclusions: 1. Self-injury is performed by 14% of adolescents aged 16-19 years, significantly more girls than boys. 2. Significantly more adolescents who perform self-injury, as compared to those who do not do it, use psychoactive substances, get drunk, report planning suicide, neglect school and more often consume alcohol. 3. Significantly more adolescents who perform self-injury, as compared to those who do not perform it, raised in a single parent family inform about alcohol addiction of a family member, conflicts with parents and the experienced psychological and physical violence experienced from their parents and peers. Significantly more girls who perform self-injury, as compared to those who do not perform it, experienced sexual abuse. 4. Performing self-injury by adolescents coexists with factors motivating to this type of behaviours: sense of helplessness, rejection, loneliness, sense of guilt, anger, impulsiveness, desire for revenge, school problems, conflicts with parents and peers.

Objectives: A better functioning of adolescents involves proper relationships with parents, whereas negative relationships lead to aggressive behaviour. Young members of Emo subculture, characterised by deep emotional sensitivity, are particularly vulnerable to parental influence. The aim was to specify a relationship between parental attitudes and aggression among adolescents from the Emo subculture in comparison with a control group., Methods: 3,800 lower secondary school students took part in the introductory research. A target group constituted 41 people from the Emo subculture as well as a control group involving 48 people. A screening survey, the Parental Attitudes Scale, the Aggression Questionnaire and the author's questionnaire including questions concerning the functioning in the Emo subculture were used in the study., Results: The results obtained in the research study suggest that there is a relationship between the indicated improper parental attitudes and aggressive behaviour among adolescents from the Emo subculture in comparison with the control group., Conclusions: In the Emo subculture, teenagers'aggressive behaviour is related to improper parental attitudes. It has been stated that mother's attitudes, irrespective of subculture, are much more strongly associated with the aggression among adolescents than father's attitudes. Moreover, aggressive behaviour in the Emo subculture occurs when father displays an excessively demanding attitude. A reduction of the level of almost all kinds of aggression manifested among teenagers from the Emo subculture is associated with mothers' attitude of acceptance. Mothers' autonomous attitude leads to an increase in the aggression in this group, whereas an inconsistent attitude of mothers fosters an increase in aggression among all teenagers.

Aim: Analyses concerning peer violence among girls and boys aged 13-17 years, in the context of socio- -economic characteristics of the family: family structure, parental employment status and perceived family wealth., Material and Methods: Preliminary data from the recent HBSC studies conducted in 12 voivodeships in Poland in 2013 was used. The analyzes concerned 2300 students aged 13-17 years (45% boys) and focused on the following types of violence: being a perpetrator and a victim of bullying, participation in fights and cyberbullying. Chi-square test analysis and multivariate logistic regression models were used., Results: Significantly more boys than girls experienced bullying (28% vs. 22%) and was perpetrators of violence in the school (39% vs. 25%). The youth from single-parent families significantly more often than students from two-parent families, participated in fights and was the perpetrators of violence in the school. Being a perpetrator and a victim of violence concerned mostly students from poor families and boys, whose father was unemployed. The following risk factors was identified- among boys: low economic status of the family (victims of bullying) and single-parent family (victims of cyberbullying), father's unemployment (the perpetrator of bullying) and age 13-14 years (victims and perpetrators of bullying, participation in fights) and among girls: low economic status of the family (cyberbullying), mother's unemployment and age 13-14 years (victims of violence)., Conclusions: The family socio-economic factors, gender and age determine the type and the prevalence of peer violence. Low economic status of the family and single-parent family increases the risk of experiencing violence. For the prevention of bullying the educational role of the father and his commitment to family budget are important.

Aim: The aim of this research was to assess the delayed effects of a two-year alcohol prevention program implemented in Polish primary schools., Method: The program comprised two curricula implemented the school and in family houses: Program Domowych Detektywów and Fantastyczne Mozliwości. Both curricula were the Polish versions of two American school-based prevention programs which belonged to Project Northland. The initial study sample (N = 802) comprised 10 to 11 years old pupils (fourth and fifth-grade) from eight primary schools in Warsaw. Schools were randomly assigned to the intervention (n = 421) and the reference group (n = 381). A self-completion questionnaire was administered to students four times: at the baseline, seven, fifteen and twenty seven months after., Results: The program had an expected influence on the students' attitudes, knowledge and resistance skills towards alcohol. The effects on the participants' initiation of drunkenness and their first experience in alcohol use with their peers have also been reported. Most of the positive effects remained significant over time., Conclusions: The effectiveness of the program, as shown by the outcome evaluation, supports an argument for its wide implementation in Polish schools. Further progress in the field of alcohol and drug prevention in Poland depends on overcoming the existing barriers in this area of public health.

Aim: The aims of the study were: 1) the assessment of the interaction between the factors specified for behavioural problems observed in pre-school children based on a factor analysis and 2) the assessment of the relationship the specified factors have with the age and gender of the study group., Method: A factor analysis based on a Principal Component Analysis of the main results of a Disturbing Behaviour Questionnaire (DBQ) completed by pre-school teachers, which includes categories of behaviour observed among pre-school age children that provoke the greatest concern among parents, guardians and educators., Material: Nine-hundred and sixty-one children aged from 2.7 to 7.9 years (mean: 5.4; SD 1.13) from randomly chosen pre-schools in all districts of Krak6w., Results: Based on a screen plot, as well as on a substantive analysis of the results, a decision was taken to employ a four-factor analysis (Lagging behind, Excessive behaviour, Eating-avoidance and Overeating) explaining 68% of the common factor variance. A very high Cronbach's alpha value was returned for the reliability of the individual scales. The conducted analysis of the relationship of the scales with age and gender indicated a greater intensity of disturbing behaviour in boys for the Lagging behind factor, the Excessive behaviour factor and the overall scale for the Disturbing Behaviour Questionnaire (DBQ). These were the scales, along with the Eating-avoidance scale, that were found to be related to age. A greater intensity of disturbing behaviour was found to occur in the younger children. The relationship between the Overeating and Excessive behaviour scales that was found among girls but not among boys indicated that--even at such a young age--the characteristics associated with eating in the context of gender were already present., Conclusions: The authors consider that the coherence of the results obtained and their consistency with other studies ofpre-school age children provide a sound platform for further analyses using the questionnaire described above.

Aim: The article's aim is to look for correlation between a parent - child relationship and the level of self-esteem in the perception of girls affected with anorexia nervosa (who meet the criteria of DSM-IV-TR). The differences in the perception of parental attitudes (of mothers and fathers) and self-esteem of girls suffering from anorexia nervosa and their healthy peers were also analyzed., Method: Two equally numbered groups of girls: the clinical group (30 persons affected with anorexia nervosa) and control group (30 healthy girls) in the 15-20 age range were examined. Two test were applied: Parent-Child Relations Questionnaire (PCR) A. Roe and M. Siegelman in the authorized translation by W. S. Kowalski to investigate characteristic behavior of parents of small children as perceived by youth or adults and a Questionnaire "What are you like?" by P. Sears in adaptation of J. Kostrzewski, which is used to study self-esteem., Results and Conclusions: The results confirmed the expected relationship between perception of parental attitudes and the level of self-esteem of girls affected with anorexia nervosa. Parental attitudes characterized by love and protection promote higher self-esteem of their daughters and the experience of higher demands and rejection by both parents lowers their self-esteem. The comparison of average attitudes of mothers and fathers in perception of their daughters diagnosed with anorexia nervosa did not confirm significant statistical differences. Comparison of maternal attitudes in the perception of their daughters from the group affected by anorexia and the healthy group revealed significant differences in full range of attitudes. The differences in perception of the attitudes of their fathers were statistically substantial regarding the attitudes concerning love and rejection. Self-esteem of persons treated for anorexia is significantly lower than of their healthy peers.

The main focus of research on consequences of HIV infection is on adult population and not much attention is given to children, especially to children with perinatally acquired HIV. Researches have shown higher frequency of mental disorders in this group. HIV infection also has a negative impact on cognitive functions, especially attention concentration. Among the possible causes of mental disorders and cognitive impairment, attention is not only paid to the neurotoxic effects of HIV on the CNS, but also on other factors, such as awareness of chronic disease, the impact of opportunistic infections and side effects of antiviral therapy. Comorbid psychiatric disorders correlate with worse compliance and higher prevalence of risk behaviors among infected adolescents. This article reviews what is known about psychiatric disorders and cognitive disorders among perinatal HIV-infected children.

Aim: To compare the self concept of boys with ADHD and health subjects; to determine which symptoms ofADHD, oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) or conduct disorder (CD) have the greatest impact on self-concept., Method: Polish version of The Harter Self-Esteem Questionnaire (HSEQ) was filled by boys with ADHD and control group. In addition, a diagnosis of ODD and CD was made in ADHD group., Results: A significant difference was observed between boys with ADHD and control group on the following scales of HSEQ: Global Self-Esteem Subscale, Social Acceptance Subscale and Scholastic Performance Subscale. No significant influence of the quantity and intensity of ADHD and ODD symptoms on self-esteem was found. A significant correlation was indicated between all scales of HSEQ and quantity and intensity of symptoms ofADHD., Conclusions: Boys with ADHD have lower self-esteem than their healthy peers and their global self-esteem, social acceptance and school skills are most affected. The presence of conduct disorder (CD) had the greatest impact on the decrease of self esteem in ADHD group.

Introduction: A characteristic feature of the period of adolescence is to experiment with e.g. alcohol drinking and tobacco smoking. Both family relations and relations with peer groups can be referred to undertaking this kind of behavior by adolescents., Objective: The aim of this study was an attempt to assess relationships between joint family and peer-group relations and the frequency of binge drinking and tobacco smoking by 15-year-olds., Material and Methods: The study was conducted in 2010/2011 within the framework of the international HBSC study (Health Behaviour in School-aged Children) on a group of 1551 people aged 15 years (49.1% boys). It was carried out in schools. Items from the HBSC questionnaire were used to assess the frequency of undertaking risky behaviors. To assess the quality of relations within the family, questions from the FDM II scale (Family Dynamics Measure II) were used, whereas an abbreviated version of the IPPA (Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment) scale was used to assess the quality of peer relations. Three patterns of relations with family and peers were identified by the use of the cluster analysis methods (k-means method)., Results: In the group of girls the differences in the proportions in clusters reflecting the patterns of relations with the family and peers were greater than in boys. 15-year olds who had good relations with peers and poor relations with their family got drunk and smoked tobacco more often than adolescents in other clusters., Conclusions: The frequency of undertaking risk behavior by adolescents is associated with perceptions of social relations. Good family relations, as a protective factor, may partially reduce the negative impact of the peer group on undertaking risk behavior by adolescents. There is a need for further research to answer the question about the trends in the correspondence between the quality of family and peer relations and undertaking risk behaviors.

Aim: The aim of the study was to determine the image of female-to-male transsexuals (FtM) in the opinion of women and men. Methods. The questionnaire studies were carried out in a group of 300 students. Respondents answered questions concerning their age, sex, birthplace and the questions related to different aspects of female-to-male transsexuals' life (their childhood, occupational preferences, social and sexual relationships)., Results: The results showed that the image of FtM transsexuals created in the male and female group varies because of the lack of opinion expressed more frequently by male students., Conclusions: (1) Students' opinion on psychical, social and sexual life of transsexuals indicates a lack of understanding of their problems. (2) Men do not report much opinion about FtM transsexuals' different aspects of lives which may result from their insufficient knowledge and little interest in the topic of transsexualism.

Aim: To assess cultural attitudes and beliefs among (female) patients being treated for various kinds of eating disorders in comparison with (female) patients diagnosed with depression and healthy girls., Method: Version II of the Cultural Questionnaire by M. Pilecki and B. Józefik referring to issues linked with those aspects of dulture whose importance is described as significant in the development of eating disorders., Material: Data from patients with the following diagnoses were used in the statistical analyses: 54 (female) patients with a diagnosis of restrictive anorexia (ANR), 22 with a diagnosis of binge-purge anorexia (ANB), 36 with a diagnosis ofbulimia (BUL) and 40 with a diagnosis of depressive disorders (DEP) and also 74 female pupils from Kraków schools (KON)., Results: Groups ANB and BUL obtained high scores, indicating the greater significance of 'ideals of thinness' in their lives than in groups KON, DEP and ANR. The BUL group was characterised by a sense of yielding to fashion pressure and also by a sense of the environmental and generational significance of the disorders in relation to groups KON and DEP. The females in group KON assessed that their parents attached greater importance to appearance than did (female) patients in group ANB. A negative evaluation of the position of women in the family was given by all the studied (female) patients in comparison with group KON., Conclusions: The obtained results may indicate the greater significance of cultural mechanisms in bulimia than anorexia nervosa. They may also be an expression of the limited possibility of introspection of girls with a diagnosis of restrictive anorexia. A negative perception of femininity in the family and culture accompanies not only eating disorders, but also depressive disorders.

Aim: To assess the prevalence of emotional and behavioural problems among preschool children., Method: The Disturbing Behaviour Questionnaire (DBQ), which was drawn up on the basis of the opinions of parents and educators, was completed by kindergarten teachers in the following categories: Excessive crying (Cry), Motor awkwardness (Awk), Lagging (Lag), Excessive dependence (Excdep), Developmental delay (Del), Hyperactivity (Hyper), Hyperactivity with aggression (Hypag), Aggression (Ag), Auto-aggression (Aag), Strange Behaviour (Stran), Self-Isolation (Isol), Avoiding Eating (Aveat), Avoiding certain foods (Avfd), Overeat (Overeat), Compulsive eating (Compeat) using the following assessment scale: Absent; Very rare; Rare; Frequent; Very frequent; Always., Subjects: 961 children aged 3 to 7 years from randomly selected kindergartens from all districts of Krak6w aged from 2.7 to 7.9 years (Mean: 5.4; SD 1.13)., Results: "Absent" was noted in 108 (11.3%) of children. 270 (28%) children answered "Always" or "Very frequent" in at least one category, including: Cry 4.2%, Awk 4.3%, Lag 4.3%, Isol 3.1%, Hyper 11.6%, Hypag 3.0%, Ag 1.2%, Aag 0.2%, Excdep 3.5%, Del 1.2%, Stran 1.3%, Aveat 6.4%, Avfd 8%, Overeat 1.3%, Compeat 0.6%. On the overall DBQ and 6 categories (Awk, Lag, Hyper, Hypag, Ag, Del) boys had statistically significantly greater intensity of problems. In terms of correlation of items on the DBQ with age, 6 items were observed to have a statistically negative relation with age (Cry, Isol, Excdep, Aveat, Avfd, Awk) as was the overall scale. Overall scale, Cry and Excdep turned out to be significant for both genders, Ag, Aveat and Avfd for girls, Awk for boys., Discussion: A series of methodological and interpretational reservations and doubts need be taken into account when interpreting results.

Introduction: Education in human sexual physiology and pathology, as well as own sexual health of medical doctors determines in a large proportion the ability to talk with patients about their sexual disorders. Therefore the authors considered important to collect and assess data regarding sexual health and development of Medical Faculty students., Aim: Analysis of selected aspects of psychosexual development and sex life of IVth grade medical students., Methods: We applied the self-report Questionnaire of Satisfaction with Sexual Life (KSS2), an instrument created to assess sexual problems in patients treated with group psychotherapy. Medical students filled the questionnaire when attending the courses of Psychopathology of neurotic disorders or Psychotherapy., Results: Analysis of the collected data revealed a relatively high differentiation of the studied group in regard of satisfaction and experiences with sexual life, attitudes towards masturbation, relationships and sexual activity. Regarding some aspects, significant differences between women and men occurred., Conclusions: A set of factors were identified, some of them may negatively influence medical doctor's competencies in the domain of sexual health. These are not having sexual debut or even lack of any erotic experiences and lack of sexual satisfaction. The results indicate a significant prevalence of factors, which may impede students education as well as taking into consideration the sexual issues during the medical interview. Assessment of influence of students' and doctors' own sexuality on their competencies in diagnostics and treatment requires further studies.

Introduction: Self-esteem is the conviction concerning self-satisfaction and self-assessment of one's competence. It can influence the overall emotional state, and determine the motivation to take actions of characteristic teenagers., Objective: Presentation of the results of research on predictors of self-esteem in healthy adolescents and their peers with diabetes. Is was investigated whether there were differences in factors that determine directly and indirectly the self-esteem within these groups., Methods: The survey was conducted during the school year 2010/2011 as a part of cultural and linguistic adaptation of the CHIP-AE questionnaire (Child Health and Illness Profile - Adolescent Edition). Data were collected from 1177 students with average age of 15.4 years, who attended junior high and high schools of different types, in five provinces of Poland. In this group there were 117 adolescents with diabetes and 1060 healthy peers. The CHIP-AE questionnaire consists of six main dimensions: satisfaction, complaints, protective factors, risk factors, achievements and illness. Students are asked to respond mostly from the perspective of the last 4 weeks. Predictors of self-esteem were selected from the following fields of CHIP-AE questionnaire: physical health, self-efficiency, limitation of daily activities, academic achievement, burden of school work, social support, capability of solving social problems, family relationships, relationships with peers and with teachers. Multivariate regression models and structural equitation models were estimated for both the healthy and the ill adolescents., Results: It has been proved that self-esteem of healthy adolescents was determined differently than that of their peers with diabetes. The most important elements forming self-esteem of adolescents with diabetes were as follows: self-assessment of physical fitness, academic achievements and social support. In the studied group an indirect impact of limitations of physical activity on self-perceived fitness and influence of physical activity on academic achievement has also been found., Conclusions: The self-esteem of teenagers with diabetes mellitus may be considered as a determinant of ability to cope with the constraints of the disease. More precise knowledge on predictors of self-esteem of teenagers with diabetes may help to improve their psychosocial functioning, and thus improve their health.

Smoking is a serious medical and social problem in Poland. In a very specific way it affects youth and students because in this period of life health behaviours and habits are formed. The aim of the research was the valuation of the scale of smoking habits, attitude and knowledge of this problem among dental students of CMUJ. The research included 345 students. The study was based on special questionnaire. The results allowed to claim that the frequency of smoking among dental students was lower then among general Polish population. Dental students were conscious how harmful smoking and passive cigarette smoking to health is. They understood their role in anti-nicotine actions, but had a low opinion about the effectiveness of such actions.

AIM. To compare the self-image of adolescents over fifteen years in Poland (1987 versus 2001). METHODS. Participants were 1752 school students aged 16 to 17 years randomly selected from high school in Kraków (university town). Self-image was measured by the Offer Self-Image Questionnaire. MANOVA, ANOVAs and CFA were applied as statistical methods. RESULTS. Between 1987 and 2001 self-image changes toward a more positive self perceptions in 2001. Boys described themselves better on most scales. Girls score better on vocational and educational goals and superior adjustment. CONCLUSIONS. Self-image changes over time. It is influenced by macrosocial conditions. The research confirms the 5-factor model of self-image structure of the questionnaire and its intergenerational and inter-cultural stability.

The Aim: To examine the relationship between perception of physical appearance and body weight by adolescents and satisfaction with school and the level of perception of social acceptance in relationships with peers., Material and Methods: The sample study was conducted in adolescents at the age of thirteen years participating in the third stage (2008) of the prospective study. Comparative analysis of the evaluation of significant differences between the groups using chi2 test were performed. The risk of dissatisfaction with the school and feeling low level of social acceptance in relationships with peers was estimated using multivariate logistic regression analysis., Results: Perceived body weight increased significantly only the risk of dissatisfaction with the school, when it was treated as the single predictor. In the models taking into account two factors (self-assessment of body mass and physical appearance), self-perception of body mass did not increase significantly the risk of dissatisfaction with school or a low sense of social acceptance. The risk of dissatisfaction with school was negatively increased in boys (Exp (B) = 11.371, p < 0.001) or average (Exp (B) = 2.726, p < 0.01) evaluated their body and in girls with negative self-perception of appearance (Exp (B) = 3.267, p < 0.05), compared with those who had good self perception of physical appearance. Greater risk of experiencing lack of acceptance by peers was observed in girls who assess their appearance as average (Exp (B) = 2.194, p < 0.01) and in the group of boys who judged their appearance as bad (Exp (B) = 6.548, p < 0.05) compared with those who were satisfied with their appearance., Conclusions: Positive self-perception of their appearance determines satisfaction with the school and the feeling of acceptance in relationships with peers. In the perception of social acceptance from peers, body weight perception is not a significant predictor. It would be justified, especially in junior high schools, to conduct educational programmes in order to assist students to build positive self-esteem.

Smoking is one of the most prevalent and also one of the most unhealthy lifestyle elements. The aim of this paper is to present the incidence and causes of smoking among children and adolescents on probation, and examine how immediate social environment reacts to their smoking. The analysis was based on the results of 190 structured interviews taken from february to may 2010 among persons who are aged 11 to 17 years, living in the city of Poznan. It was found that cigarette smoking in the study population is common phenomenon, primarily correlated with age, but also to gender. Family and peer environment, not only does not constitute a buffer against smoking, but sometimes it reinforces the unhealthy behaviors.

The aim of the study was to examine influence of school stress on level of health and health disorders in adolescence. The data were collected from students often post-elementary schools in Warsaw The investigation were carried on in two stages, when adolescents attended second grade (783 students aged 14-15 years), and in the next year, when they attended third grade (804 students aged 15-16 years). Four indicators measured severity of school stress: (1) change of school, (2) difficulties in learning, (3) lack of support from teacher (4) dislike to go to school. Seven indicators were accepted as indicators of the level of health and health disorders: (1) self-assessment of health status, (2) physical well-being, (3) psychical well-being, (4) sick absenteeism during the last month, (5) frequency of staying at home or in hospital during the last year due to health disorders, (6) frequency of being in contact with physician during the last year (7) frequency of intake medicines. The first three of them were assumed as subjective indicators, and the further four as objective indicators. The analysis found out that: (1) relatively more girls than boys experienced dislike to go to school, (2) students, who changed school, had difficulties in learning, had negative relation with teacher or dislike to go to school, in comparison to those, who did not notice these problems, in general, lower assessed their health and well-being and more frequently suffered from health disorders, (3) subjective indicators of health were much more associated with school stress than objective indicators. Simultaneously, the summarized rank scale of school stress was elaborated.

Aim: The aim of this study is to determine female-to-male transsexual's (FtM) stereotypes created in female and male university students and comparing them in the analysed groups., Method: 300 university students (from the Technical University of Łódź, University of Łódź, Medical University of Łódź) received a questionnaire with 10 pairs of the opposite meaning adjectives (good-bad, weak-strong, fast-slow, ugly-pretty, fat-thin, suppressed-loud, clever-stupid, light-heavy, active-passive, kind-cruel) related to a notion 'female -to-male transsexual' and placed on the extremes of the 7-point scales. The respondents also described each adjective as positive, negative or neutral., Results: For most of the adjectives' pairs (fast-slow, ugly-pretty, fat-thin, suppressed-loud, clever-stupid, light-heavy and, in men's answers also good-bad and kind-cruel) the students placed FtM transsexual in the middle of the scales (the median was 4). Women significantly more often than men placed FtM transsexual closer to the adjectives "good", "pretty" and "kind", also they assessed the FtM transsexual more often as being "clever"., Conclusions: 1. The Female-to-male transsexual is not perceived stereotypically among university students. 2. Men created more negative female-to-male transsexuals' image than women.

Aim: The study aims to find out whether or not the image of depression in children has remained related to the changing social context within a period of fifteen years., Method: For the depression study, version AO "B1" of the Kraków Depression Inventory (KID) was used. The subject group included 10-year-old fourth-form Kraków primary school students selected in 1984 and 2001 by two-stage draw. The analysis included subjects with a screening diagnosis of depression. In 1984, this was a group of 160, and in 2001-200 persons., Results: Statistical analysis showed significant differences between the groups of pupils under study in 1984 and 2001 as far as the scale of mood disorder is concerned (a reduction in the intensity of symptoms in girls and an increase in boys) and somatic symptoms (increase of symptoms in girls and a reduction in the intensity of symptoms in boys). On other scales, no differences of statistical significance were found between the groups. CONCLUSIONS. The changing social conditions have a relatively low effect on the symptomatic depression image in preadolescent children.

Introduction: There is a social stereotype of a obese person. People very often manifest negative attitudes to the obese ones. The negative evaluation and rejection by peers experienced by obese people in adolescence can make some difficulties in the development of sense of identity and stabilization of relationship with others. The aim of the study is description of obese adolescents in the eyes of their peers., Material and Methods: 60 adolescents (30 girls and 30 boys) at the mean age 14,34 years, range 13,5-15,0 years. Investigation has been done by the method specially prepared for that particular purpose--four pictures representing four people (from obese to lean) girls and boys dressed hiding/disclosing their body. In the first part of investigation adolescents should point out twice (relating to all pictures) these people, who they would like to sit beside on a bench. In the second part of the investigation they should point out features to 8 people of different sex and body mass. The method was prepared in two versions for girls and for boys., Results: 1. Girls more often than boys point out slim people as primary choice. 2. All participants involved in the investigation point out the slim boy in cloths disclosing his body. 3. Girls more often relate to mental features. Boys more often describe people in evaluate and behavioral features. 4. The slim adolescents are perceived in a more differential way than the obese ones., Conclusions: 1. Obese teenagers could be perceived by peers as unattractive, not able to keep interpersonal relation. 2. Rejected by peers, obese people are therefore more likely to remain in infantile relationships with their mothers.

Nocturnal enuresis co-exists with various emotional disturbances. Adolescents with bed-wetting problems often demonstrate a lowered self-esteem and self-acceptance. Most adolescents who struggle with this unpleasant condition come from incomplete, dysfunctional families. The illness does not allow the teenager to function comfortably in society and it may lead to increased emotional problems in the psyche of an adolescent person. Sickness does not allow free social functioning teenager and it can be problems in emotive sphere reason of deepening growing person.

Background: The negative influence of tobacco smoke on the course of bronchial asthma is complex and includes direct toxic effects on the epithelium of the respiratory tract. It is estimated that in developed countries, approximately 25 percent of adult asthmatics are tobacco smokers. Knowledge of the scale of the habit, may considerably contribute to the optimization of effective pro-health activity. The aim of this study was to analyze the occurrence of tobacco smoking among patients with the respiratory system disease., Material and Methods: The study group comprised 371 patients (136 men and 235 women, aged 18-30) with diagnosed bronchial asthma and treated in the Allergy Outpatient Clinic in Swiecie, Poland. They were subjected to an analysis aimed at determining the reasons for tobacco smoking and smoking-related behavior in the patient's closest environment., Results: In the examined group, there were 92 tobacco smokers (63 men and 29 women). The multi-variant analysis showed that hanging around smoking friends, the pleasure of smoking and experienced relaxation were the most frequent motivation for taking up smoking. Similar reasons, hanging around smoking friends, group acceptance, and pleasure of smoking, were reported by 59.8%, 43.5%, and 43.5% of patients, respectively. The behavior of people in the closest environment influenced the majority of smokers with asthma; 80% of patients reported current smoking and 88% of patients in medical history. The proportion of non-smokers was 47 and 34%, respectively., Conclusion: To sum up, it should be stated that despite of the fact that smoking is a documented risk factor, young patients with bronchial asthma are still subjected to this habit.

Unlabelled: The image of the self changes over time. The changes are conditioned by the culture and the social structure that the adolescents live in., Aim: The study aimed to compare self-image in the non- treated 17 y.o. population of adolescents during 15 years., Method: In 1987 and 2001, a representative sample of school-attending adolescents was screened with OSIQ (The Offer Self-Image Questionnaire for Adolescents)., Results: In the period surveyed, the self-image of 17-year-olds improved. In the boys' group, there is still an incoherence of the self-image, while in girls the coherence grows., Conclusions: As a result ofmacrocultural factors, favourable changes take place in the area of mental health and coping that are reflected in the improvement of the self-image.

Aim: The study was aimed at finding relationships between self-concept, alcohol expectancies and drinking in the group of high school students. It was expected that a higher level of alcohol consumption was related to lower self-concept and positive expectancies concerning alcohol use., Method: The group of 229 Polish high school students, 92 men and 137 women, recruited in schools, participated voluntarily in a cross sectional questionnaire study., Results: Significant relationships were found between alcohol consumption, gender, and both positive and negative expectancies concerning alcohol use. Results indicated a possible curvilinear relationship between self concept and alcohol use., Conclusions: The expectancy theory of alcohol use found strong support in the findings. Positive alcohol expectancies facilitated drinking while negative served as inhibitors. The relationship between self-concept and drinking appeared to be more complex.

Unlabelled: Resilience refers to mechanisms that enable young people to sustain good health and harmonic development despite adversities., The Aim: to present resilience theory and one example of empirical evidence., Material and Methods: the survey was carried out in 2006, on the representative sample of 2287 adolescents (average age 15.7) in the frame of HBSC (Health Behaviour in School-aged Children) study. As an outcome measure, a syndrome of two or more subjective complaints experienced more than once a week was selected. We assumed that negative perception of peer environment could be a risk factor. A scale measuring use of psychoactive substances, categorized into 2 levels, was applied. As protective factors, two dichotomous variables describing family were chosen: easiness to talk to parents and quality of family relationships. RESULTS showed that 29.2% boys and 45.9% girls suffered from multiple subjective complaints. The prevalence of these complaints increased in adolescents representing negative perception of peer environment, compared to the most positive perception (for girls: from 37.9% to 57.5%, p < 0.001; for boys: from 19.7% to 39.1%, p < 0.001), but the rate of change was lower in more supportive families. Logistic regression model indicated significant interaction between risk and protective factors, but was valid only in boys and in the model including quality of family relationships., Conclusions: Good family relationships are recognized as a protective factor reducing negative influence of peers on adolescent subjective health. It is important to reach the group of adolescents reporting accumulation of poor family relationships and a high risk peer environment.

The study is based on the theory of resilience. Data obtained in Polish schools in 2006 on 2 287 15-year-old pupils were analyzed within HBSC (Health Behaviour in School-aged Children) study. The index of multiple subjective complaints was defined as the main outcome measure. Adolescents provided information on family and local area well-off, social support, quality of family relations, social self-esteem, and school climate. Each of six factors was classified into low, average and high level, and then 12 dummy variables were defined with average level as the reference category. To identify which dummy variable had significant effect upon subjective complaints linear regression model controlled for age was estimated, as well as two gender specific models. We found that strong social bonds are more important for predicting adolescents subjective health than economic factors. However, the effect of protective factors appeared to be lower than had been expected.

Unlabelled: Transsexualism is one of the gender identity disorders where psychological sex is opposed to anatomical sex. This disorder leads to a discrepancy between the preferred social gender and the biological sex., Aim: The aim of this research is to compare knowledge and attitude toward transsexualism in student's opinion, coming from three universities in Lódź., Method: The questionnaire study was performed in the group of 300 students from three universities in Lódź: Technical University of Lódź, University of Lódź, Medical University of Lódź. The questionnaire contained 30 questions related to respondent's sex, birthplace, knowledge about definition and aetiology of transsexualism and also rights which students would grant to transsexuals., Results: The right definition of transsexualism was pointed by 64% of students from Medical University, 57% from Technical University and 40% from University of Lódź. The right to surgical sex change for transsexuals would be granted by 87% of students from the Medical University, 69% from the University of Lódź and 40% from the Technical University. Majority of medical students (90%) and respectively 78% and 57% from the University of Lódź and Technical University would accept a transsexual as his/her co-worker., Conclusions: Student's knowledge about transsexualism is similar and does not differ from a foreign student's knowledge. Students from natural science studies (medicine and biology) are the most tolerant towards transsexuals.

Introduction: Psychiatric disorders are common among children and adolescents, affecting about 15-22% of this population. In order to fully develop emotional and cognitive skills, those children require professional care at early stages of the illness. Inventories addressing the broad range of emotional and social impairments, with high reliability and validity, can be of great help in early diagnostics. Self-report scales were proven valuable diagnostic tools even for young children. The Beck Youth Inventories (BYI) are five self-report measures for children between the ages of 7 and 14. They assess a child's experience of self-concept, depression, anxiety, anger and disruptive behaviour. BYI were created in response to epidemiological studies demonstrating significant prevalence of psychiatric disorders in children as well as the U.S. governmental report suggesting a high value of a brief questionnaires for early diagnostics of those disorders., Aim: To our knowledge, there existed no Polish self-report scale for children examining a broad range of psychiatric disturbances. The aim of the study was to create a Polish version of BYI and to examine its psychometric properties., Method: Using a culturally-adapted Polish translation, we examined 197 students of three primary schools in Warsaw., Results: The scales had high reliability (Cronbach's alpha from 0.87 to 0.93). The validity was confirmed by intercorrelations between scales. In addition, boys scored higher on theAnger and Disruptive behaviour scales and young children on the Self-concept scale., Conclusion: Polish self-report inventories for children, examining emotional and social impairments have been created. Very high reliability and good validity of each scale qualify them as trustworthy tools both in scientific research and in individual diagnostics.

Objectives: Presentation of: frequency of sexual debut and its age among 16- and 18-year-olds; number of sexual partners and use contraception methods among sexually active adolescents., Material and Method: Representative sample of adolescents aged 16 and 18 years in Poland, students of different type of high schools (N=2893; 1490 boys, 1403 girls) was used. Four questions concerning sexual behaviour were included in anonymous questionnaire and were derived from U.S. the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS)., Results: Among 18-year-olds 49.9% of boys and 47.3% of girls reported sexual debut with mean age 16.5 and 16.8 years respectively. 26.4% of students have had sexual intercourse at age 15 years or earlier. The frequency of sexual initiation increased with age, was higher among adolescents living in towns than in villages and was the highest among vocational school students. 26.3% of adolescents had three or more and 8,8% had six or more sexual partners. 11.1% of sexually active adolescents reported that either they or their partners had use any method of contraception during their last sexual intercourse. The most common contraception methods used was condom (it was reported by 82.9% of boys and 75.2% of girls). 41.1% of adolescents used ineffective methods: withdrawal and "natural methods"., Conclusions: Approximately half of 18-year-olds started their sexual life. There is not gender differences in sexual debut frequency. The risk of unwanted pregnancy, STDs infections and other sexual and reproductive health problems is the highest among girls living in towns and students of vocational schools. The development of family planning and sexual and reproductive health services for young people in Poland is necessary.

Aim: To assess changes in occurrence of depressive disorders during late adolescence a prospective epidemiological study was carried out., Method: Representative sample of 17 y.o. school adolescents (N=2094) was screened for depression with the Krakow Depression Inventory (KID) in 2001, 2002 and 2003., Results: Point prevalence of depression was found respectively: 27.27% for 17 y.o., 27.43% for 18 y.o., and 26.69% for 19 y.o. and was relatively stable in the sample studied., Conclusions: It was found that depression is more often in late-adolescent girls than in boys of the same age. The dynamics of depression across the years suggests a differentiated nature of the disturbance.