Search

Decades of research has shown that adolescent alcohol consumption is linked to effective parenting. Data were obtained from adolescents (N=11 503, mean age 14.9±0.79) in Austria, Estonia, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Romania, Slovenia and Spain within the European Union's 7th Framework Programme funded project, 'Saving and Empowering Young Lives in Europe (SEYLE)'. Our data show that on average in European families' parents most of the time or always know about their childrens' whereabouts, never or rarely check their homework, most of the time or always understand their problems and often help them make important decisions. Parents also often take time to talk, listen to adolescents' opinions and come to see their special activities. Investigated parenting actions conceptualised as firmness, closeness and involvement can in some combinations predict adolescent alcohol consumption frequency. The current paper suggests that there are two types of family contexts where adolescents drink less alcohol. In the first family context parents most of the time or always know about their whereabouts, check their homework and often help to make important decisions or understand problems. In the second type, their parents often take time to talk to them, listen to their opinion and come to see their special activities. Ineffective parenting eclipses different family structure types and reveals to be a higher predictor of adolescents' multidimensional decline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the current study is to examine the associations between the quality of relationships and life satisfaction of older mothers in Estonia, Germany, Russia and the People's Republic of China, based on the assumptions of the Family Change Theory. The role of satisfaction with family life as the probable mediating factor is considered. Estonian older mothers reported the least admiration and intimacy in their relationships with their adult daughters, and the least satisfaction with family life compared to German, Russian and Chinese mothers. German older mothers perceived the most admiration from their adult daughters and were the most satisfied with both their family and general life. Russian older mothers were the least satisfied with their general life compared to their counterparts in Estonia, Germany and China. The results from the Structural Equation Modelling showed that the relationship between satisfaction with family life and general life satisfaction was statistically significant in all countries except Russia. The satisfaction with family life as a mediating factor might strengthen the positive and negative aspects of intergenerational relationships on the life satisfaction of older mothers. The findings indicated that the emotional closeness and intergenerational relationships in families during the process of transition and globalisation play an important role in the life satisfaction of older mothers in these four countries. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This study assesses the complex impact of risk and protective factors on suicide mortality in the Ukrainian general population. Data on suicide rates and socioeconomic and medical factors were obtained from the Ukrainian State Statistical Office, WHO, and the European Social Survey. Structural equation modeling was used for data analysis. Religion and education were negatively associated with suicide. The relationship between drug addiction/alcoholism and suicide was positive. The association between urbanization and suicide mortality was negative. The relationship between gross regional product (GRP) and female suicide was slightly negative. Religiosity was the protective factor most strongly linked with suicide mortality followed by urbanization. The harmful role of drug addiction and alcoholism was confirmed. The role of education and GRP is controversial. No striking gender differences were found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Psychiatry is the property of Sage Publications Inc. 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.)

Background: Declared suicidal intent and physical danger are both considered important components in defining suicidal behaviors (SB). Aims: 1) To investigate characteristics of serious suicidal behaviors (SSB), defined by either suicidal intent or lethality; 2) To determine any difference in terms of socio-demographic, clinical and/or service usage variables between SSB and non-serious suicidal behaviors (NSSB). Methods: A total of 2631 contacts for SB were registered in the context of the MONSUE (Monitoring Suicidal Behavior in Europe) study project. Demographic and clinical information were registered. ICD-10 was used for classifying data about psychiatric diagnoses, methods used for SB and injuries reported. Clear intentionality, high-case fatality methods and serious injuries all defined SSB ( n = 1169; 44.4%) Results: SSB were more often preceded by a contact with an inpatient (either psychiatric or somatic) rather than an outpatient service. Among those having a previous history of SB, SSB subjects had fewer contacts with health services before the previous attempt. The strongest predictors for SSB appeared to be older age and not professing a religion. Conclusion: Many of the known factors contributing to the risk of completed suicide were also present for SSB. Our findings on service usage by suicide attempters show which aspects of mental health services should be strengthened in order to improve suicide prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The current study is aimed to assess the relationship between the 'economic/employment' and 'social/welfare' dimensions of social exclusion and suicide mortality in Europe.Methods: Suicide rates for 26 countries were obtained from the WHO. Data on social expenditure were obtained fromthe OECD database. Employment rates and GDP were obtained from the Total Economy Database. Questions aboutcitizens’ attitudes towards different aspects of social exclusion were taken from the European Social Survey. Structuralequation modelling was applied to research the theoretical structure of the variables.Results: All variables are statistically significant in male and female models except of the relationships between'economic/employment' and 'social/welfare' dimensions and female suicides; and the relationship between 'employmentrates' and 'economic/employment' dimension. Suicide mortality rates among both males and females are influencednegatively by 'economic/employment' and 'social/welfare' dimensions. Among females, the influence of 'social/welfare'dimension is stronger compared to the 'economic/employment' dimension. The remaining influence of GDP is positivein both models.Conclusions: Both 'economic/employment' and 'social/welfare' dimensions of social exclusion significantly influencesuicide mortality among males. The influence of 'economic/employment' and 'social/welfare' dimensions of socialexclusion on female suicide mortality is controversial. Social exclusion might be considered as a risk factor for suicidemortality in Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The present study attempted to assess the relationship between suicide mortality and employment status in Europe.Methods: Suicide trends were obtained from the World Health Organization, employment rates from the Conference Board Total Economy Database, and questions about citizens’ attitudes towards employment from the European Social Survey. Correlations were analysed. Differences between mean scores for attitudes in Western and Eastern Europe were calculated.Results: Employment and suicide trends are negatively correlated in most countries. Suicide mortality is associated with unemployment risk and expectations of inadequate financial resources during unemployment, and negatively correlated with an assured high sdard of living for the unemployed. Suicide mortality and the degree of conviction that the government should ensure jobs for all are weakly correlated. Attitudes towards employment and unemployment in Eastern and Western Europe diverge.Conclusions: Changes in employment rates influence suicide mortality in many European countries. Factors that increase suicide mortality include lack of confidence in employment status and unemployed people’s expectations of insufficient income and low living standards. Suicidal behaviour is more strongly related to attitudes linked with employment status among males than females. In Eastern Europe the status of being unemployed is feared more, and people rely more on the government. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]