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Adolescence is a critical stage in the development of an individual’s physical activity (PA) habits and preferences. Adolescents’ perceptions of PA can influence their motivation to engage in PA and, consequently, their overall level of PA. Thus, our primary aim was to investigate whether Czech adolescents misperceive their peers’ PA. Our dataset comprised cross-sectional data on 1289 adolescents aged 11–15 years. PA was measured using self-reported items used in the HBSC study. To describe the gender and school grade differences in VPA, independent samples T, ANOVA, Mann–Whitney U, and Kruskal–Wallis H tests were performed. To analyze the effect of gender, school grade, school, and participants’ own PA on the underestimation of PA, binomial regression models were used. Our study points out that there is a discrepancy between self-perceived levels of PA and the perceived descriptive norms of peers’ PA. Adolescents underestimate the prevalence of sufficient PA, and thus perceived descriptive norms in PA as being worse than levels of own PA. These findings indicate room for targeted interventions based on social-norms-based approaches to increase the PA of adolescents or at least strengthen their actual positive behavior.

Východiska: V soucasnosti vlastni stale vice lidi zařizeni (chytre hodinky, telefony apod.), ktere informuji o jejich PA. Dostupnost a možnosti modernich informacnich a komunikacnich technologii (ICT) přinasi potencial pro jejich využiti v prostředi skoly jako nastroje pro podporu PA žaků. Před zavedenim intervenci pomoci ICT na skole je vsak užitecne znat nazory jedinců, na ktere přimo cili nebo se jich bezprostředně týkaji. Cile: Cilem setřeni bylo popsat nazory ceských žaků a ucitelů na ICT a jejich využiti pro podporu PA. Metodika: Data byla ziskana pomoci ohniskových skupin tvořených uciteli (n = 6) a žaky 2. stupně (n = 23) ze tři zakladnich skol v Ceske republice. Scenař ohniskových skupin se zaměřoval na nazory ohledně ICT, specificky těch, ktere mohou sloužit k podpoře aktivniho životniho stylu. Rozhovory byly doslovně přepsany a podrobeny obsahove analýze s využitim vytvořených anonymizovaných kodů. Výsledky: Žaci na druhem stupni zakladnich skol si jsou vědomi jak přinosů, tak i rizik použivani ICT. Hlavnimi motivy k použivani ICT pro podporu PA jsou socialni ve smyslu soutěživosti, porovnavani a interakce s vrstevniky. Ucitele sice považuji technologie spise za přinosne, ale ICT pro podporu PA jsou jimi vnimany jako neautenticke a majici kratkodobý efekt. Jejich užiti ve skole pak někdy naraži na nedostatecne technicke vybaveni i slabou podporu ze strany rodiců a kolegů. Při vývoji aplikaci pro soucasne adolescenty je potřeba obstat vysokým narokům teto populace co se týce jejich funkci, variability a zaroveň individualnim potřebam uživatelů. Zavěry: Potencial ICT pro podporu PA spatřuji cesti žaci a ucitele zejmena ve použivani mobilnich aplikaci spojených s chytrými hodinkami. Největsi vliv na jejich uživani měly socialni motivy. Pro dlouhodobějsi efekty těchto intervenci je pak stale důležitý lidský prvek.

Východiska: Nedostatek pohybove aktivity (PA) je spojovan s negativnim dopadem na zdravi clověka. V obdobi adolescence si jedinec vytvaři pohybove chovani, ktere může ovlivnit jeho zdravi v dospělosti. Zatimco PA adolescentů v průběhu skolnich dni je v ceskem prostředi mapovana detailně, v průběhu mimoskolnich dni je popsana meně. Vnimane chovani vrstevniků je pro adolescenty důležite, jelikož si na jeho zakladě utvaři tzv. socialni normy. Porovnani vlastni realizovane PA a vnimane urovně PA vrstevniků je v ceských podminkach ojediněle. Cile: Cilem teto studie bylo zjistit, zda se lisi realizovana sobotni PA od vnimane sobotni PA a zda je tento vztah ovlivněn rocnikem skolni dochazky a pohlavim. Metodika: Výzkumný soubor teto studie cita 1 586 adolescentů ve věku 11-15 let. Sběr dat proběhl v roce 2018 v Ceske republice. Žaci vyplnili elektronický dotaznik zaměřený na vlastni PA a vnimanou uroveň PA vrstevniků. Statisticke rozdily byly hodnoceny pomoci Pearsonova chi-kvadrat testu. Výsledky: V průběhu sledovane soboty splnilo 59,9 % ceských adolescentů v nasem výzkumnem souboru zdravotni doporuceni pro PA (alespoň 60 minut PA). Signifikantně vice chlapců (6,3 %) nežli divek (3,4 %) reportuje nulovou sobotni pohybovou aktivitu (X2 = 7,125; p = 0,008). Pouze 37,0 % žaků se vsak domniva, že větsina jejich spolužaků splnila uplynulou sobotu zdravotni doporuceni pro PA. Odpovědi chlapců a divek se signifikantně lisi i v tomto připadě (X2 = 18,687; p = 0,001). Žaci se domnivaji, že 41,9 ± 23,6 % jejich spolužaků realizovalo v sobotu alespoň jednu hodinu PA. Tento odhad se lisi o 18 procentnich bodů od reportovaneho stavu a jedna se tak o statisticky významný rozdil. Zavěry: Uroveň vlastni realizovane PA a vnimane urovně sobotni PA u vrstevniků se mezi ceskými adolescenty výrazně lisi. Na zakladě teorie socialnich norem je v tomto připadě vhodne cilit vzdělavaci intervence pravě do prostředi ceskeho skolstvi.

Background The IPEN International Physical Activity and Environment Network Adolescent project was conducted using common study protocols to document the strength, shape, and generalizability of associations of perceived neighborhood environment attributes with adolescents’ physical activity and overweight/obesity using data from 15 countries. Countries did not use identical versions of the Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale for Youth (NEWS-Y) to measure perceived neighborhood environment attributes. Therefore, this study derived a measurement model for NEWS-Y items common to all IPEN Adolescent countries and developed a scoring protocol for the IPEN Adolescent version of the NEWS-Y (NEWS-Y-IPEN) that maximizes between-country comparability of responses. Additionally, this study examined between- and within-country variability, and construct validity of the NEWS-Y-IPEN subscales in relation to neighborhood-level socio-economic status and walkability. Methods Adolescents and one of their parents (N = 5714 dyads) were recruited from neighborhoods varying in walkability and socio-economic status. To measure perceived neighborhood environment, 14 countries administered the NEWS-Y to parents and one country to adolescents. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to derive comparable country-specific measurement models of the NEWS-Y-IPEN. Country-specific standard deviations quantified within-country variability in the NEWS-Y-IPEN subscales, while linear mixed models determined the percentage of subscale variance due to between-country differences. To examine the construct validity of NEWS-Y-IPEN subscales, we estimated their associations with the categorical measures of area-level walkability and socio-economic status. Results Final country-specific measurement models of the factor-analyzable NEWS-Y-IPEN items provided acceptable levels of fit to the data and shared the same factorial structure with five latent factors (Accessibility and walking facilities; Traffic safety; Pedestrian infrastructure and safety; Safety from crime; and Aesthetics). All subscales showed sufficient levels of within-country variability. Residential density had the highest level of between-country variability. Associations between NEWS-Y-IPEN subscales and area-level walkability and socio-economic status provided strong evidence of construct validity. Conclusions A robust measurement model and common scoring protocol of NEWS-Y for the IPEN Adolescent project (NEWS-Y-IPEN) were derived. The NEWS-Y-IPEN possesses good factorial and construct validity, and is able to capture between-country variability in perceived neighborhood environments. Future studies employing NEWS-Y-IPEN should use the proposed scoring protocol to facilitate cross-study comparisons and interpretation of findings.

The study was supported from European Regional Development Fund-Project “Effective Use of Social Research Studies for Practice” (No. CZ.02.1.01/0.0/0.0/16_025/0007294) and the Czech Science Foundation under reg. No. 18-24977S. Objectives: Associations between the perceived social and physical environment and self-reported moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and screen time (ST) were examined among adolescents in four European countries. Methods: Representative samples were surveyed with standardised methodologies. Associations between environmental variables and meeting MVPA recommendations and tertiles of ST were tested in gender-specific logistic regression models. Moderation by country and country-specific relationships were also examined. Results: The most consistent findings across countries were found for the significant associations between neighbourhood social environment and MVPA in both boys and girls. Significant associations with the physical environment varied more between countries and by gender. The most consistent negative associations with ST were found for the social environmental variable of having parental rules for spending time outside the home. Conclusions: The present findings provided evidence for the generalisability of the associations between environmental correlates and MVPA across four European countries. The findings show clear differences in correlates for MVPA and ST. Further research is needed to better understand the unique aspects of the social and physical environment which explain each of the two behaviours. Postprint

Introduction As indicated by the WHO, lifestyle plays a unique role in human health, which in turn is determined to a great extent by physical activity and nutrition. It must be borne in mind that physical activity should be systematic and regulated by an age-appropriate exercise intensity. All this indicates that learning about students' lifestyle, with a particular focus on physical activity is vital as it these young people who aspire to the role of the future elites. Objective The aim of the study is to evaluate the level of physical activity, nutrition- and silhouette-related behaviours of male and female students to assess the relationships between these variables in students from the Visegrad Group countries. Material and methods The study was conducted in 2015 and involved 2,497 students attending three undergraduate levels aged - x - 21,76, (SD-1,80) - 1,211 males (48.5%) and 1,286 females (51.5%). The IPAQ long-form and a questionnaire by the Polish Chief Sanitary Inspector were used. Results Physical activity was significantly higher in male than female students. An important relationship was observed among the larger number of consumed meals, level of physical activity, and silhouette-related behaviours in male students, which was not the case with females. However, there was an important correlation between physical activity in males and females who exercised to increase or decrease body weight (musculature), and took medications to increase body weight (musculature). Conclusions Both males and females showed pro-health attitudes related to the level of physical activity and nutrition- and silhouette-related behaviours.

Východiska: Pohybova aktivita (PA) ceských středoskolských a vysokoskolských studentů je z hlediska plněni doporuceni k PA nedostatecna, což se významně podili na vzrůstajicim sedavem chovani a nezdravem způsobu životniho stylu. Přesto studie, ktere by porovnavaly rozdily ve vykonane PA u studentů na střednich (SS) i vysokých skolach (VS), jsou velmi ojediněle. Cile: Cilem studie je zjistit, jake jsou diference v sedavem chovani, v typech transportu a chodeckých aktivitach u středoskolských a vysokoskolských studentů a take ziskat podklady k ucinnějsimu ovlivňovani životniho stylu studentů. Metodika: Výzkum se uskutecnil v roce 2015 na 12 střednich a 6 vysokých skolach. Celkem se výzkumu zucastnilo 283 chlapců na SS, 144 chlapců na VS, 418 děvcat na SS a 200 děvcat na VS. K diagnostice sedaveho chovani a PA byl použit dotaznik "International Physical Activity Questionnaire - long form" v internetove podobě v systemu INDARES. Ke statistickemu zpracovani byl použit Kruskal-Wallis test a kontingencni tabulky v programu Statistica 12. Výsledky: V celkove týdenni PA jsme zaznamenali statisticky významne rozdily jak mezi středoskolskými chlapci a děvcaty, tak mezi vysokoskolskými chlapci a děvcaty. Doporuceni "pětkrat týdně alespoň 30 minut chůze" neplni 36 % středoskolských studentů a 43 % vysokoskolských studentů. Doporuceni "sedmkrat týdně 60 minut souhrnne denni PA" neplni 71 % středoskolských studentů a 72 % vysokoskolských studentů. Zavěry: Přestože studenti střednich skol vykazuji vice sezeni, v celkove PA jsme nezjistili mezi středoskolskými a vysokoskolskými studenty významne rozdily. Tři ctvrtiny vsech studentů neplni doporuceni "sedmkrat týdně 60 minut souhrnne PA", což potvrzuje dlouhodobý trend v nedostatecne PA a narůstu sedaveho chovani. Pro zlepseni životniho stylu středoskolských studentů je třeba podporovat změny v režimu skol, ktere narusi převažujici sedave chovani a podpoři efektivnějsi kompenzaci edukacniho zatiženi. Ve vysokoskolskem prostředi je důležite podporovat možnosti větsiho zapojeni děvcat do PA.

The aim of this study was to extend the psychometric evaluation of the Short Self-Regulation Questionnaire (SSRQ) by assessing the factor structure across three countries from Central and Eastern Europe. The sample included 1809 students from Slovakia, Lithuania and Hungary. Based on an initial confirmative factor analysis, a 2-factor structure by Neal and Carey (2005) was confirmed in the Lithuanian sample. Next, exploratory factor analyses were used on the Slovak and Hungarian subsamples separately. For both national subsamples, a very similar four factor solution was found, which was confirmed by confirmatory factor analyses on the rest of the data. Despite the reduced number of items, the abridged scale did not suffer in terms of its internal reliability and thus provides an adequate approximation of self-regulation levels as the entire scale or as the scale with the proposed 4-factor solution.

To achieve a healthy lifestyle, adolescents must be physically active and meet physical activity (PA) guidelines. One of the most natural ways of increasing the amount of PA is active commuting (AC) to school. Recent reviews suggest that peer norms have the potential to shape PA during adolescence in particular. Thus, our primary aim was to investigate whether Czech adolescents misperceive their peers&rsquo, AC behaviors and attitudes towards AC. Our dataset comprised cross-sectional data on 1586 adolescents aged 11&ndash, 15 years. Basic descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and correlation analyses were used to analyze the data. Regarding traveling to school, 68% of the Czech adolescents in this study are daily active commuters (walking, cycling, or riding a scooter or skateboard). Less than half of the respondents believed that most of their classmates were commuting to school actively almost daily. The students who believed that most of their classmates commuted to school actively had significantly higher chances of being regular active commuters themselves. The results showed that most of the Czech adolescents misperceived the AC norms of their peers. Thus, there could be potential in using a social norms approach aimed at increasing the level of AC in Czech adolescents through targeted interventions.

BACKGROUND: Many studies indicate that a substantial part of the student population drinks excessively, yet most European universities do not have an alcohol policy. In the absence of an alcohol guideline at universities and the easy access to alcohol sold at the student cafeteria, for instance, this has the potential to place students at risk of overconsumption, which has adverse health consequences.OBJECTIVES: Therefore, our study objectives were to explore and compare university students' experiences and attitudes toward alcohol policy on their campus using a qualitative approach.METHODS: 29 focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted among students from universities in five European countries: Belgium (4 FGDs), Denmark (6 FGDs), France (5 FGDs), Hungary (6 FGDs), and the Slovak Republic (8 FGDs), with a total number of 189 participants.RESULTS: Across the five European countries, students recognized that alcohol was a big problem on their campuses yet they knew very little, if any, about the rules concerning alcohol on their campus.CONCLUSIONS: Students will not support an on campus alcohol restriction and a policy should therefore focus on prevention initiatives.

The objective of the paper was to investigate the association between PA and general life satisfaction in adolescents, taking into account family affluence and selected psychological, family and school factors. The survey (2015) involved 4085 Polish lower-secondary school students. Life satisfaction was measured with the abridged Students’ Life Satisfaction Scale (SLSS). Vigorous Physical Activity, self-esteem, family affluence, family relations and the perception of the school environment were considered as independent variables. Hierarchical and path models were applied. The mean SLSS score was M = 4.66 (SD = 2.23), and 36.9% of its variability was explained—mainly by self-esteem. The impact of PA on self-esteem became stronger when family affluence decreased, which led to the conclusion that material status may modify the impact of behavioural factors on the SLSS scores’ variability in adolescence.

Purpose. The aim of the study was to evaluate the physical activity level, nutritional behaviours, and body silhouette concern in 15-17-year-old boys and girls from Eastern European countries.Methods. The research, carried out in 2015, involved 2145 secondary school adolescents, including 877 boys and 1268 girls (mean = 16.5, SD = 2.0). The results of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and Health Behaviours Questionnaire were analysed.Results. The questionnaire results allowed to conclude that boys were definitely more active than girls. A significant relationship between physical activity and the number of meals was found. Another significant relationship was observed between higher physical activity in boys who wanted to gain weight and in girls who wanted to lose weight.Conclusions. Both boys and girls have positive attitudes towards their health with regard to their level of physical activity, nutritional behaviours, and body silhouette concern. A significant relationship was found in the interrelationship among the features considered, with simultaneous gender differentiation.

OBJECTIVE: School is a place where students spend most of their daytime hours. Previous studies indicate that the class climate significantly affects students in both positive and negative ways. The aim of our study is to describe the trends in the psychosocial school environment based on four surveyed years in the Czech Republic.METHODS: The trends in perception of school were assessed by the standardised self-reported HBSC questionnaire from data collected in 2002, 2006, 2010, and 2014. The overall sample included 8,530 girls and 8,087 boys. Data was analysed separately by gender and three age categories 11, 13, and 15 years. Trends were calculated using descriptive categories and percentages. To identify factors influencing school likeness we used binominal logistic regression.RESULTS: Results showed that school satisfaction declines with age both in boys and girls in each of four surveyed periods. Students who do not feel a high level of support from the teacher are more prone to negative perceptions of school. School duties in both genders were perceived to be greater and more stressful in 2014 than in 2002.CONCLUSIONS: Interventions to support the perception of psychosocial school environment via the educational system should, therefore, take the aforementioned variation into account.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the article is to examine trends in tobacco consumption among the Czech school-age population.METHODS: For the analysis, data from the Czech Health Behaviour in School-aged Children project, conducted between 1994 and 2014 were used. Trends in tobacco smoking were determined separately for boys and girls, applying the binary logistic regression with survey period as an independent variable for the smoking status.RESULTS: The analysis showed that there have been significant changes in adolescent tobacco smoking for the recent 20 years. While the share of current school-aged smokers was continuously increasing since the mid-1990s, the trend reached its peak in the mid-2000s.CONCLUSION: In recent years, the prevalence of adolescent smokers has significantly declined in the Czech Republic. Despite this recent decline, adolescent smoking remains a major challenge for the national health policy.

Background: One of the main reasons for recent scientific interest in screen-based behaviour (SB) is the relationship between SB and risk of being overweight or obese. The primary mechanism for overweight and obesity is an imbalance of energy intake versus energy expenditure and one reason for the interest in SB is its association with reduced energy expenditure relative to other activities. Objective: The aim of this study is to provide a basic overview of the level and structure of SB in Czech adolescents on the basis of age and gender while taking into account the differences between weekday and weekend screen based activities. Methods: Data from the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study conducted in May-June 2010 in the Czech Republic were used. The sample consisted of 4365 Czech pupils (48.5% boys; age 11, n = 1406; age 13, n = 1446; age 15, n = 1513). Binomial logistic regression and Chi-square test of independence were used to provide basic comparison on the basis of gender and age groups. Results: The prevalence of SB rise with growing age with the most visible increase in prevalence is between ages 11 and age 13. SB is significantly more prevalent among adolescent boys compared with adolescent girls. Czech adolescents are more likely to not meet the recommendation of 2 hours for watching TV at weekends compared to weekdays. Playing computer games is more common among boys contrary to chatting online, which is more common among girls. The overall patterns of playing computer games and chatting online during weekends were similar to those at weekdays but increased. Conclusions: Most children in the Czech Republic do not meet the limit for total SB time of 4 or fewer hours while the prevalence of SB rises with growing age and at weekends. Interventions and strategies aiming at reducing SB in children focusing on the family and school environment in the Czech Republic are required.

The period of adolescence maybeparticularlyimportantintheshapingofthesocio-economicgradient. However, despite its importance, only a few follow-up studies of adolescents have investigated changes in socio-economic differences in health during adolescence.Patterns of socio-economic inequalities may vary bygender, although findings have been inconsistent. Mustardand Etches

This work was supported by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (MEYS) under contracts No. LG14042 and No. LG 14043. Background. The concept of social capital has been extensively used to explain the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and adolescent health and well-being. Much less is known about the specific mechanism through which social capital impacts the relationship. This paper investigates whether an individual’s perception of community social capital moderates or mediates the association between SES and life satisfaction. Methods. This study employs cross-sectional data from the 2009–2010 Czech Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children survey: a WHO Collaborative Cross-National Study (HBSC). A sample of 4425 adolescents from the 5th, 7th and 9th grade (94.5% school response rate, 87% student response) was used to perform multilevel analysis. Results. We found that pupils’ life satisfaction was positively related to both family affluence and perceived wealth. Moreover, we found the cognitive component of social capital to be positively associated with life satisfaction. Additionally, a significant interaction was found, such that the social gradient in life satisfaction was flattened when pupils reported high levels of perceived community social capital. Conclusions. The present findings suggest that community social capital acts as an unequal health resource for adolescents, but could potentially represent opportunities for public health policy to close the gap in socioeconomic disparities. Publisher PDF

Background: Overestimations of non-prescribed stimulant use of peers are well documented in the USA and have also been identified as predictive of personal stimulant consumption. This study aimed to examine whether overestimations of peer use and approval of the use are associated with personal use and attitude towards the use of non-prescribed stimulants among European university students. Method: The EU funded 'Social Norms Intervention for the prevention of Polydrug usE (SNIPE)' study was conducted in seven European countries. In a web-based questionnaire, 4482 students were asked about their personal use and their attitude towards non-prescribed stimulant use, as well as the perceived peer use and peer attitude. Results: 59% of students thought that the majority of their peers used non-prescribed stimulants more frequently than themselves, and only 4% thought that the use of the majority was lower than their personal use. The perception that the majority of peers had used non-prescribed stimulants at least once was significantly associated with higher odds for personal use of non-prescribed stimulants (OR: 3.30, 95% CI: 2.32–4.71). In addition, the perception that the majority of peers approved of the non-prescribed use of stimulants was associated with a 4.03 (95% CI: 3.35–4.84) times higher likelihood for personal approval. Discussion: European university students generally perceived the non-prescribed use of stimulants of peers to be higher than their personal use. This perception, as well as a perception of higher approval in the peer group, was associated with a higher likelihood of personal non-prescribed stimulant medication use and approval. The Social Norms for the prevention of Polydrug usE (SNIPE) project was funded by the European Commission (LS/2009-2010/DPIP/AG).

Objective: Perceptions of peer behavior and attitudes exert considerable social pressure on young adults to use substances. This study investigated whether European students perceive their peers’ cannabis use and approval of cannabis use to be higher than their own personal behaviors and attitudes, and whether estimations of peer use and attitudes are associated with personal use and attitudes. Method: University students (n = 4131) from Belgium, Denmark, Germany, the Slovak Republic, Spain, Turkey and the United Kingdom completed an online survey as part of the Social Norms Intervention for Polysubstance usE in students (SNIPE) project, a feasibility study of a web-based normative feedback intervention for substance use. The survey assessed students’ (1) personal substance use and attitudes, and (2) perceptions of their peers’ cannabis use (descriptive norms) and attitudes (injunctive norms). Results: Although most respondents (92%) did not personally use cannabis in the past two months, the majority of students thought that the majority of their peers were using cannabis and that their peers had more permissive attitudes towards cannabis than themselves. Controlling for students’ age, sex, study year and religious beliefs, perceived peer descriptive norms were associated with personal cannabis use (OR: 1.42; 95% CI: 1.22, 1.64) and perceived injunctive norms were associated with personal attitudes towards cannabis use (OR: 1.46; 95% CI: 1.09, 1.94). Conclusions: European students appear to possess similar discrepancies between personal and perceived peer norms for cannabis use and attitudes as found in North American students. Interventions which address such discrepancies may be effective in reducing cannabis use. Keywords: cannabis, social norms, student health, social influence

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to assess discrepancies between estimated peer and personal drinking behavior and to determine associations between perceptions of peer and personal drinking behavior among university students from Hungary (HU), Lithuania (LT), and the Slovak Republic (SK). Methods: 2,554 freshman university students completed an online questionnaire on the frequency of their personal alcohol use, the number of heavy drinking occasions and on their perception concerning the corresponding drinking behavior of a typical student. Associations between perceived peer and personal use were analyzed by means of logistic regression, adjusting for sex. Results: The majority of students across all countries thought their peers drink more frequently and are more often involved in heavy drinking occasions than themselves. Students who perceived the frequency of peer alcohol use to be higher were more likely to drink alcohol twice a week or more often (SR: OR = 3.81, 95% CI = 2.51–5.79; LT: OR = 3.16, 95% CI = 2.11–4.75; HU: OR = 2.10, 95% CI = 1.53–2.87) compared with students who drink alcohol monthly or less. Those who perceived the number of peer heavy drinking occasions as high were more likely to report heavy drinking weekly or more often (SR: OR = 3.16, 95% CI = 1.92–5.20; LT:OR = 3.56, 95% CI = 2.14–5.94; HU:OR = 1.41, 95% CI = 0.79–2.51) compared with students who report heavy drinking less than monthly. Conclusions/Importance: University students perceived peer alcohol use to be higher than their personal use. Given the association between perceptions and personal alcohol use, future research should investigate if targeting perceptions in the surveyed countries may have an impact on alcohol use.

The vast majority of studies focusing on alcohol consumption among university students are based on US and Canadian samples and employ a quantitative approach. Universities from the US and Canada also have a longer tradition in implementing alcohol policies. The alcohol policies at universities in Slovakia are mostly non-systematic and often not implemented in practice. The objective of this study was to explore Slovak university students’ experiences towards alcohol policy on their campuses using a qualitative approach. Eight focus group discussions were conducted among university students (n=64; 38 female; 2011; Slovakia). The key questions were (1) “Is there a policy concerning alcohol on your campus and what are the consequences of not complying with it?”, and (2) “How should an on-campus alcohol policy be developed and what should it include?” The students knew of few, if any, rules concerning alcohol. Student participation was considered important in policy development and implementation. Slovak universities should be more active in forming alcohol policies. A preventative policy which actively involves students was emphasized as optimal.

Objectives: The main purpose of this paper is to explore whether unemployment influences adolescents' subjective perception of health and whether perceived financial stress and social contacts can mediate the effect of employment status on health. We are also interested in the differences in financial situation and social contacts between unemployed secondary school leavers and their employed and studying counterparts.Methods: Data were obtained from 844 adolescents (mean age 19.6) from Slovakia. The effect of unemployment on several health indicators was measured and subsequently controlled for perceived financial strain of respondents and their social contacts.Results: The results showed highest financial strain among unemployed, whereas only small differences in social contacts were found between three groups. Negative influence of unemployment on perceived health of respondents was confirmed. Nevertheless, strong influence was found only on long-term well-being and mental health. Financial situation and social contacts contributed to the prediction of almost all health outcomes, and to some extent mediated the effect of unemployment.Conclusions: Although unemployment was found to have a negative impact on health of adolescents, sufficiency of social contacts and good financial situation seem to decrease this effect and protect the health of unemployed people.

Background: Countries in recession experience high unemployment rates and a decline in living conditions, which, it has been suggested, negatively influences their populations’ health. The present review examines the recent evidence of the possible association between economic recessions and mental health outcomes. Methods: Literature review of records identified through Medline, PsycINFO, SciELO, and EBSCO Host. Only original research papers, published between 2004 and 2014, peer-reviewed, non-qualitative research, and reporting on associations between economic factors and proxies of mental health were considered. Results: One-hundred-one papers met the inclusion criteria. The evidence was consistent that economic recessions and mediators such as unemployment, income decline, and unmanageable debts are significantly associated with poor mental wellbeing, increased rates of common mental disorders, substance-related disorders, and suicidal behaviours. Conclusion: On the basis of a thorough analysis of the selected investigations, we conclude that periods of economic recession are possibly associated with a higher prevalence of mental health problems, including common mental disorders, substance disorders, and ultimately suicidal behaviour. Most of the research is based on cross-sectional studies, which seriously limits causality inferences. Conclusions are summarised, taking into account international policy recommendations concerning the cost-effective measures that can possibly reduce the occurrence of negative mental health outcomes in populations during periods of economic recession., Frasquilho D. receives a grant from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), reference SFRH/BD/80846/2011. This paper was also supported by the ECOP project “Support for creating excellent research teams and intersectoral mobility at Palacký University in Olomouc” (reg. no. CZ.1.07/2.3.00/30.0004), and by the Czech Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport under contract no. LG 14043 and LG 14042. The authors wish to thank Dr. Sharon Leahy from the University of St. Andrews who assisted in the proof-reading of the manuscript.

Introduction: Research conducted in North America suggests that students tend to overestimate tobacco use among their peers. This perceived norm may impact personal tobacco use. It remains unclear how these perceptions influence tobacco use among European students. The two aims were to investigate possible self-other discrepancies regarding personal use and attitudes towards use and to evaluate if perceptions of peer use and peer approval of use are associated with personal use and approval of tobacco use. Methods: The EU-funded 'Social Norms Intervention for the prevention of Polydrug usE' study was conducted in Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Slovak Republic, Spain, Turkey and United Kingdom. In total, 4482 students (71% female) answered an online survey including questions on personal and perceived tobacco use and personal and perceived attitudes towards tobacco use. Results: Across all countries, the majority of students perceived tobacco use of their peers to be higher than their own use. The perception that the majority (> 50%) of peers used tobacco regularly in the past two months was significantly associated with higher odds for personal regular use (OR: 2.66, 95% CI: 1.90–3.73). The perception that the majority of peers approve of tobacco use was significantly associated with higher odds for personal approval of tobacco use (OR: 6.49, 95% CI: 4.54–9.28). Conclusions: Perceived norms are an important predictor of personal tobacco use and attitudes towards use. Interventions addressing perceived norms may be a viable method to change attitudes and tobacco use among European students, and may be a component of future tobacco control policy. Funding for this study was provided by the European Commission, Directorate Gener-al Justice, Freedom and Security (grant number: JLS/2009-2010/DPIP/AG). BB has been a recipient of a research grant provided by the European Research Advisory Board (ERAB).

Background Solutions that increase adolescents’ physical activity without putting added pressure on the school curriculum merit consideration. Thus the aim of this study was to assess the effect of active transport, particularly walking, on the probability to meet the sufficient level of daily physical activity. Methods Research sample consisted of 1864 Czech and Polish adolescents (38% males, mean age 16.2). To assess the active transport, the long form …

Objective: The objective of this study was to explore perceptions of peer substance use and related attitudes among European students. Challenging perceptions about peer substance use has become the basis of a form of prevention and intervention known as the social norms approach, which can be delivered using personalized online feedback. This article reports baseline alcohol use and attitudes data for university students across Europe collected as part of the Social Norms Intervention for the prevention of Polydrug usE project (Project SNIPE). Method: Students from universities in Belgium, Denmark, Germany, the Slovak Republic, Spain, Turkey, and the United Kingdom were recruited to take part in an online survey by the use of email invitations, social media, classroom announcements, flyers, and stalls in social areas, such as in cafeterias and bars on campus. A total of 4,482 students agreed to participate. Results: Overall, respondents reported both perceived alcohol use and perceived acceptance of alcohol use among their peers that were higher than their own use or acceptance. Perceived peers behaviors and attitudes were found to be predictive of personal behaviors and attitudes, with some variation across countries and by sex. Conclusions: The results suggest that students at the participating institutions across selected European countries exhibit overall similar patterns of perceptions as have been found on American college campuses. In conjunction with the finding that the perceived norm is predictive of personal behavior and attitudes, this research provides support to the view that the social norms approach may be a viable method to reduce alcohol consumption among students at European universities.

Purpose: To explore the associations between mother's and father's employment status separately and together and the subjective health of children; and how parental education and financial strain can modify these associations.Methods: Data were obtained from 2836 respondents aged 14 to 22 years (mean age 17.7 years). Logistic regression models were used with three subjective health indicators: self-rated health, long-standing illness, and health complaints; and ANOVA with one indicator: long-term well-being. Father's and mother's employment status was coded as follows: employed, short-term unemployed (less than one year), long-term unemployed (more than one year), and parental employment status as follows: both employed, one unemployed and both unemployed. All analyses were done separately for males and females.Results: Father's long-term unemployment was a significant predictor of moderate self-rated health and low long-term well-being among males and females. Mother's long-term unemployment was negatively associated with self-rated health of females and long-standing illness among males. No associations between father's or mother's unemployment and occurrence of health complaints or between short-term unemployment and worse health of children were found. Unemployment of both parents negatively influenced self-rated health of both genders and long-term well-being of females. After including parental education and financial strain in the model, the negative effect of father's and mother's long-term unemployment on health remained significant. However, influence of unemployment of both parents on health disappeared after adjusting for these variables.Conclusions: Parental long-term unemployment (especially of fathers) is negatively associated with adolescents' subjective health, and this association remains even when the social class and financial strain is taken into account. (c) 2006 Society for Adolescent Medicine. All rights reserved.

Background Increasing level of overweight and obesity among younger generations represents serious public health problem in Czech Republic. This study investigated whether the perception of neighbourhood design and physical activity mediates the last decade BMI increase among Czech adolescents. Methods The sample consisted of 2538 Czech adolescents (42.4% males; aged from 15 to 19). Database was pooled from cross-sectional national measurements preformed since …

Objective: To compare European students' personal use and approval of illicit substance use with their perceptions of peer behaviours and attitudes, and investigate whether perceptions of peer norms are associated with personal use of illicit substances and attitudes. Method: This study used baseline data from the Social Norms Intervention for the prevention of Polydrug usE (SNIPE) project involving 4482 students from seven European countries in 2012. Students completed an online survey which included questions on personal and perceived peer illicit substance use and personal and perceived peer attitude towards illicit substances. Results: 8.3% of students reported having used illicit substances at least once in their life. 49.7% of students perceived that the majority of their peers have used illicit substances more frequently than themselves. The perception was significantly associated with higher odds for personal illicit substance use (OR: 1.97, 95% Cl: 1.53-2.54). The perception that the majority of peers approve illicit substance use was significantly associated with higher odds for personal approval of illicit substance use (OR: 3.47,95% CI: 2.73-4.41). Conclusion: Students commonly perceived that their peers used illicit subtances more often than themselves. We found an association between the perceived peer norms/attitudes and reported individual behaviour/ attitudes. (C) 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Background Previous research has suggested that the perceptions students hold about the alcohol use of their peers are often inaccurate. Students tend to overestimate the peer alcohol use and these misperceptions have been identified to be a predictor of higher personal alcohol consumption. Most studies in this research field come from North-America, the current Social Norms Intervention for the prevention of Polydrug usE (SNIPE) study aimed to assess misperceptions of alcohol use among …

F Salonna, J Mitas, K Fromel, D Groffik Institute of active lifestyle, Faculty of Physical Culture, Palacký University, Olomouc, Czech Republic The Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education, Katowice, Poland Contact: ferdinand.salonna@upol.cz Walking has been identified as one of forms of physical activity not to show a significant decrease in participation levels during transition from the primary to secondary school, thus it is meaningful to invest to walking behaviour promotion, especially in times when level of sedentary behaviours of adolescents steadily growing. This study investigated the relation of adolescents walking behaviour to neighbourhood design and recreational environmental design. Methods This study is based on cross-sectional analyses of self-reported survey data. The sample consisted of 942 Polish adolescents (44.9% boys; mean age 15.8). Self-completion questionnaires were administered in classroom at randomly selected schools in Silesia and Malopolska Provinces (south Poland) during late 2012 and beginning of 2013. To measure the neighbourhood design and recreational environmental variables, modified version of Neighbourhood Environment Walkability Scale Abbreviated (NEWS-A) was used. To quantify the walking behaviour a part of International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was used. To assess the relation of adolescents walking behaviour to neighbourhood and environmental variables logistical regression models were computed separately for both genders stratified by degree of urbanization. Results Regression analyses showed that environmental variables were related to walking behaviours. Walking for transport was more prevalent in highly urbanized areas compared to areas with low degree of urbanisation. No association between recreational walking and degree of urbanisation was found. Walking for transport was associated with Land-use mix, Access to services and Walking/cycling facilities. Recreational walking was associated with Aesthetics, Street connectivity and Land-use mix. Conclusions Walking behaviours may take different forms depending on socio-demographic factors (e.g. age, gender or geographical location). Public health interventions need to adapt to match the variety of opportunities for walking. Key messages Walking behaviours may take different forms depending on socio-demographic factors. Public health interventions need to adapt to match the variety of opportunities for walking. It is meaningful to invest to walking behaviour promotion, especially in times when level of sedentary behaviours of adolescents steadily growing.