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Sexual health includes not only the prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), unwanted and unplanned pregnancy, coercion, violence and discrimination, but also a positive approach to sexuality (Edwards & Coleman, 2004). Although Hungary is still among the countries with low HIV/STISs infection rate, sexually active young people are at higher risk of infection (Goodwin et al., 2003; Gyarmathy, McNutt, et al., 2002; UnAIDS, 2018). Given this paucity of research on sexual behavior and risk-taking in Hungary, the objective of the present study was to seek information on youth's sexual attitudes and behaviours and categorize students according to their risk-taking behavior. Participants of an online survey included under- or postgraduate university student across Hungary (aged 18-30 years, N = 357, 73.9% female). The survey consisted of items on participants' demographic characteristics, sexual activity, behavior and sex-related attitudes, namely The Sexual Self-Concept Scale et al., 2006); The Sociosexual Orientation Inventory - Revised (SOI-R) (Penke & Asendorpf, 2008); The Sexual Sensation Seeking (SSS) scale (Kalichman et al., 1994). Study findings indicate that university students in this sample were rather sexually active, having problems with condom use as a means of protection, particularly with casual partners. In addition, those who are not heterosexual are exceptionally at risk in terms of unprotected sex and particular sex-related attitudes, such as sociosexual and sexual sensation seeking motivations.

This study examined a set of background psychological and other variables of orthorexic (ON) tendency in a sample of young women with special interest in healthy lifestyle. The sample consisted of female young adults (N = 310; aged 18–35 years; mean age = 24.3 years; SD = 4.97 years) who were recruited through social media health sites. Besides Orthorexia Nervosa Questionnaire (ORTO‑15), BMI, regular sporting activity, the following scales were used: Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI, drive for thinness, ineffectiveness and maturity fears); Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS); and The Proactive Coping Inventory. In this sample, 37.7% were at risk for ON. Eating disorder attitudes, regular sporting and social media addiction were the most relevant predictors of orthorexic tendency with drive for thinness being the strongest contributor (β = 0.54, p < 0.001). For young women with a special interest in healthy lifestyle, drive for thinness together with regular sporting, ON tendency may serve as a tool for achieving their goal. Social media addiction and other psychological problems (feeling of ineffectiveness or maturity fears) can also contribute to orthorexic rendency. It would be important to ask for support from qualified health professionals when changing nutritional practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although music performance anxiety (MPA) is a common problem, there are only a few studies on this subject in Hungary. In this article, we investigate the underlying socio-demographic and psychological factors related to music performance anxiety. The sample consisted of musicians (N = 100; aged between 15-35 years) who were studying or had completed their musical education. Study participants completed the Kenny Music Performance Anxiety Inventory, Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale, Social Phobia Inventory and other music-related questions. Females reported higher levels of MPA and social anxiety without a significant difference in perfectionism. Social phobia and perfectionism were significantly correlated with MPA. In multiple regression analysis four out of six subscales of perfectionism significantly predicted MPA, among which Parental Criticism and Doubts about Actions were positive, while Parental Expectations and Preference for Organization were negative predictors. We conclude that there is a strong interrelationship among MPA, social anxiety, and perfectionism. Findings suggest that in some cases of MPA there may also be co-morbid, non-performance related social phobia. These results indicate that MPA is complex and multi-factorial, with possible early onset, thus alerting parents, teachers, and mental health professionals to the value of early recognition, management, and intervention.

Due to its impact on mental health and well‐being, fear of happiness is beginning to receive more attention in research. This study, conducted in Hungary, explored the relationship between fear of happiness, perfectionism, loneliness, hopelessness, and academic burnout. Participants aged between 18 and 35 years (N = 1,148, M = 22 years, SD = 4.5) completed an online questionnaire that included self‐report measures of these constructs. In the present study, males showed higher levels of fear of happiness and perfectionism than did females. Analyses also revealed that both adaptive and maladaptive perfectionism, academic burnout, loneliness, and hopelessness were positively related to fear of happiness. In multiple regression analysis, gender had a positive and age had a negative role in the levels of fear of happiness. Maladaptive perfectionism, academic burnout, loneliness, and hopelessness were positive predictors, while adaptive perfectionism almost reached statistical significance. These findings highlight the predictive role of previously unexplored variables in fear of happiness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the relationship between risk, assets, and negative health behaviors among a large sample of Hispanic adolescents. Data were collected from over 1,000 Hispanic youth in grades 6, 8, 10, and 12 attending school in a moderate size school district in Northwest Arkansas. Logistic regression models examined the variation in the odds of youth engaging in negative health behaviors (antisocial or drug use). Within the context of a risk-assets framework, depressive symptomatology, negative peer networks, and community disorganization were related to higher odds of engaging in negative behavior. Knowing the difference between right and wrong--having some sense of a moral order--and having parents who exerted some control (curfew, etc.) were important assets lowering the odds of engaging in negative behavior. Risks and assets help to explain negative health behaviors among Hispanic youth not unlike their non-Hispanic counterparts. The findings in this article reemphasize the need for continued focus on special populations and the framework for understanding risk behaviors.

Although the role of existential attitudes in adolescent health-related behavior has received increased attention recently, historically it has been underinvestigated in the field. The present study focuses on existential attitudes related to meaning in life and hopelessness. Relations of presence of meaning, search for meaning, and hopelessness with past and anticipated future involvement in problem- and health-enhancing behaviors were examined in a cross-sectional study of Eastern European (Transylvania, Romania) adolescents (N = 426, 42.1% males; M age = 16.5 year, range 15-18 years). Results indicated that these existential variables were significantly related to higher levels of healthy behaviors and lower levels of problem behaviors (hopelessness inversely). Among these existential factors, the search for meaning in life was the most significant contributor factor for adolescent behavior. As an overall conclusion, results point to the significant role that the search for meaning in life may play in the relation with adolescents' problem and health behaviors. (Contains 5 tables.)

Objective: To assess smoking media literacy in a sample of Hungarian youth and to determine its association with current smoking and susceptibility to future smoking. Design: Quantitative cross-sectional survey. Setting: Four elementary and four high schools in Mako, Hungary. Method: A survey form was administered in regularly-scheduled classes to 546 eighth- and twelfth-grade students that included the smoking media literacy (SML) scale and items assessing cigarette use. Logistic regression was used to examine the relationship of smoking media literacy with current smoking, and also separately for susceptibility to smoking in the future, as dependent dichotomous variables. Results: Smoking media literacy was lower among the Hungarian adolescents than what has been previously reported in American adolescents. Multivariate logistic regression analysis results showed smoking media literacy to be associated with reduced risk of current smoking status at a similar level to that found in American adolescents. However, unlike previous research in American adolescents, smoking media literacy and susceptibility to future smoking was not associated. Reduced smoking may be most associated with the representation-reality domain of media literacy, which relates recognition of what is portrayed in the media with reality. Conclusion: Based on this study's findings, prevention and health promotion planners in Hungary should consider media literacy training as a possible addition to smoking prevention efforts in community- and school-based efforts. (Contains 5 tables.)

As adolescent overweight has become a widespread problem in the developed world, it is timely to understand commonalities underlying dietary practices across countries. This study examines whether consumption of fruits and vegetables and fatty foods among adolescents in different countries is related to the same individual difference and social influence factors--in particular, adolescents' self-control, diet concerns and perceptions of typical (un)healthy eating peers (prototypes). We included 511 normal weight and overweight adolescents (14-19 years) from the United States, the Netherlands and Hungary, who completed a survey during class hours. After controlling for country and demographics, an additional 8% of the variance in the consumption of fatty foods was explained by self-control, diet concerns and prototypes of unhealthy eaters. Only 3% of fruit and vegetable consumption was explained by these factors, and only the association with self-control was significant. This study demonstrates that the same individual difference and social influence factors may influence adolescents' dietary practices in different countries. In addition to highlighting country differences in dietary practices and the prevalence of overweight, exploring common factors that may shape dietary practices across countries is important for future research. These commonalities may advance conceptual understanding and inform prevention across developed countries.

Previous studies have investigated social images in health-risk behaviors, suggesting that these images are important factors in adolescents' health-related decisions. In this study, 548 secondary school students (aged 14-21 years, M = 16.5 years, SD = 1.3) in Szeged, Hungary, were tested to determine how social attitudes influence the development of exercise prototypes. Physical activity behavior had clear social images associated with exercise, such as physically fit or healthy. Results showed that (a) males have different tendencies of developing prototypes according to their physical activity status; (b) social attitudes and levels of physical activity were determining factors; and (c) significant differences existed between the low-physical- and high-physical-activity groups regarding the role of social attitudes in the prototype perceptions. (Contains 6 tables and 1 figure.)

We examined the impact of risk and protective factors on the odds that African American adolescents seriously think about or attempt suicide. Data from students in grades 5-12 in a mostly urban, southeastern U.S. school district were analyzed. Findings support earlier work documenting differences in gender and grades. Risk factors were uniformly significant in understanding both ideation and attempts. Protective factors were not consistent predictors; the lowering role of religious protective factors was limited, though student's belonging to or their perception of belonging to a spiritual community was a significant factor in lowering the odds of suicide ideation.

Background: The primary purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of bullying among a sample of African American adolescents and the risk factors associated with odds that a student engages in bullying behavior. Methods: Using a self-report school-based survey, 1542 African American adolescents from a single school district (grades 5-12) living in a midsized, Southern metropolitan region, were asked questions regarding bullying behavior and risk behaviors. A response rate of nearly 80% was obtained. Results: Our results indicate that bullying behavior was higher among this group of African American adolescents than reported for other general student populations (8-12%). In addition, age, family violence, negative peer relationships, and behavioral risks all contributed to increased odds of students reporting bullying behavior. Conclusions: Our findings underscore the importance of intervention at an early age. Whether the intervention is in a formal or nonformal setting, specialists along with teachers, parents, and siblings need to begin a multipronged approach (data collection, training/education of school personnel, curriculum development, etc) to address the causes and consequences of bullying among adolescents.

Despite a growing body of research into children's concepts of illness, many basic questions still remain. This study aims to describe 8- to 11-year olds' lay beliefs of health, illness, health promotion and disease prevention. Children responded to open-ended questions about health and illness by drawing and writing their responses. Two primary schools of two small towns of Bekes County, Hungary, were invited to participate. The sample consisted of 128 primary school students (57% males and 43% females), one class from each of Grades 3, 4 and 5 within each location. Consistent with previous findings, the children of this sample have considerable knowledge about health, illness and disease risks. In addition, they seem health conscious and hold positive attitudes toward health and health promotion. Many respondents demonstrated a biomedical approach to health. At the same time, holistic views of health were also common. Children's past experiences (e.g. trivial infections) may play an important role in their concepts of disease causation. Ideas about health promotion were especially varied, with a few children describing complex guidelines. (Contains 9 figures.)

We examined leisure behaviours and the relationships between leisure and a variety of problem behaviours in a sample of 1422 Hungarian adolescents (age range: 14-19). Findings from multivariate analyses suggest that some aspects of adolescent leisure, such as family or conventional activities, act as protective factors against problem behaviours, while peer-oriented activities or commercial types of leisure contribute to greater risk for problem behaviours. We also found that the same leisure activities explained problem behaviours for both males and females. The study suggests that the relationships between leisure activities and problem behaviours are highly similar as found among Western youth.

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2006.12.003 Byline: Bettina F. Piko (a), Judit Bak (a)(b), Frederick X. Gibbons (c) Keywords: Smoking; Adolescence; Prototypes; Social images Abstract: It is suggested that a more profound understanding of cigarette smoking among adolescents should include the social images they have of smokers. The main goal of the present study was to investigate the role of smoker prototypes in adolescents' smoking status and to compare the role of negative and positive smoker images. Data were collected from high school students in two counties of the Southern Plain Region of Hungary (N =548; ages between 14 and 21 years). The self-administered questionnaires contained items on sociodemographics, smoking occurrence, and smoker prototypes. Factor analysis revealed three smoker prototypes: a negative prototype (e.g., dull, childish), a positive social appearance prototype (e.g., cool, popular), and a positive individual competence prototype (such as smart, independent) all with satisfactory reliability. Odds ratios suggest that the role of the negative prototypes for nonsmokers is greater than the role of positive prototypes for smokers. For boys, positive individual competence prototype also seems to be important. Health promotion programs should focus on fostering negative social images in prevention. Author Affiliation: (a) Department of Psychiatry, Division of Behavioral Sciences, University of Szeged, 6722 Szeged, Szentharomsag Street 5, Hungary (b) Program for Behavioral Sciences, Graduate School of Mental Health Sciences, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary (c) Iowa State University, Department of Psychology, Ames, IA, USA

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2005.04.013 Byline: Bettina F. Piko Keywords: Social motives; Communal mastery; Adolescent smoking and drinking Abstract: The main goal of this study is to investigate social influences of adolescent smoking and drinking. These social influences include social motives, parental attitudes, communal mastery and peers' substance use patterns. Literature suggests that communal mastery (as a form of social competence) may be related to adolescent substance use. In addition, gender differences may be hypothesized in the social influences of adolescent substance use. Data were collected in a middle and high school student population (N =634, 50.6% males, age range: 11-19, mean: 15.6, S.D.: 2.0) in Szeged, Hungary. The instruments contained questions on sociodemographics, smoking and drinking, social influences, social motives, and communal mastery. Results showed that high levels of communal mastery was an important protective factor against adolescent boys' smoking and drinking. For girls, communal mastery did not play such a role. The role of social motives, friends' and best friend's substance use and parental approval also were justified. Author Affiliation: University of Szeged, Department of Psychiatry, Division of Behavioral Sciences, University of Szeged, 6722 Szeged, Szentharomsag str. 5.Szeged, Hungary