[Social determinants of psychological distress in adolescents aged 18 years in Poland].
THE PURPOSE of the study was to analyse the relationships between social environment (school, family, peers) factors and distress of adolescents aged 18 years.


METHODS
the questionnaire survey was carried out in the sample of 1379 pupils in the third grade of upper secondary schools; mean age of pupils 18.7 years. The questionnaire contained scale GHQ-12 (General Health Questionnaire) and questions from HBSC (Health Behaviour in School-aged Children. A WHO Collaborative Cross-national Study) survey, concerning school attitude, family structure, parental bonding, communication with parents and peers' relationships. Comparative analyses were done by chi2 test. Odds ratio and multivariate logistic regression models were estimated for risk assessment.


RESULTS
over 40% of 18 year olds had a higher level of psychological distress, significantly more frequent among girls than boys (p < 0.001), and urban than rural adolescents (p < 0.01). Pupils from general upper secondary schools more often felt distress than pupils from basic vocational schools (50% vs. 27%, p < 0.001). Girls who reported not liking school and felt pressured by schoolwork had a higher level of distress (Exp(B) = 1.8 and 2.1). Significant relationships were found between worse parental bonding, difficulties in communication with parents and higher level of distress both in boys and girls (Exp(B) from 1.8 to 2.8). Lack of same-sex close friends and no time spent with them after school were predictors of higher distress mostly in boys (Exp(B) od2,2 do 11.5).


CONCLUSIONS
school problems (prospect of school-leaving e xams), difficult family relationships and especially lack of same-sex friends and spending time with them outside school are risk factors for psychological distress of youth aged 18 years.
Tabak
Izabela
I
Zakład Ochrony i Promocji Zdrowia Dzieci i Młodziezy, Instytut Matki i Dziecka w Warszawie. izabela.tabak@imid.med.pl
Jodkowska
Maria
M
Oblacińska
Anna
A
D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D011044:Poland; D011159:Population Surveillance; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012424:Rural Population; D012574:Schools / Q000145:classification; D012737:Sex Factors; D012931:Social Environment; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population