<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><sec id="j_jmotherandchild-20212503SI.d-21-00013_s_006"><h3>Background</h3><p>The paper focuses on Bulgarian adolescents’ behaviours that put their health at risk and their relationship to family-related characteristics: structure of family and material status, family support, communication with parents, parental monitoring and school-related parental support. It also discusses intervention programs with a focus on parent support gradient.</p></sec><sec id="j_jmotherandchild-20212503SI.d-21-00013_s_007"><h3>Material and methods</h3><p>The analysis is based on the Bulgarian sample of Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children survey, the 2018 round. Logistic regression models of current cigarette smoking, regular alcohol consumption, sexual debut and current cannabis use are applied. Main national programs on adolescent health and the parental involvement component in them are also discussed.</p></sec><sec id="j_jmotherandchild-20212503SI.d-21-00013_s_008"><h3>Results</h3><p>The statistical analyses reveal significant gender and age differences in Bulgarian adolescents’ health risk behaviours. Girls have significantly higher odds of smoking and are less likely to report an early start of sexual life. Odds of cigarette smoking and regular alcohol consumption increase with age. Children living with one parent have significantly higher odds of smoking, regular alcohol consumption and current cannabis use. Interactions between FAS and family support reveal that students who report low family support, regardless of the material status of the family, have significantly higher odds of health risk behaviours.</p></sec><sec id="j_jmotherandchild-20212503SI.d-21-00013_s_009"><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>The main contribution of the analysis reveals the alleviating effect of family support on socio-economic inequalities between families. An evidence-based approach delineating a preventive potential of family support on Bulgarian adolescents’ health risk behaviours despite the level of family affluence provides solid arguments for increasing national family support programs.</p></sec></abstract>

BackgroundThe paper focuses on Bulgarian adolescents’ behaviours that put their health at risk and their relationship to family-related characteristics: structure of family and material status, family support, communication with parents, parental monitoring and school-related parental support. It also discusses intervention programs with a focus on parent support gradient.Material and methodsThe analysis is based on the Bulgarian sample of Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children survey, the 2018 round. Logistic regression models of current cigarette smoking, regular alcohol consumption, sexual debut and current cannabis use are applied. Main national programs on adolescent health and the parental involvement component in them are also discussed.ResultsThe statistical analyses reveal significant gender and age differences in Bulgarian adolescents’ health risk behaviours. Girls have significantly higher odds of smoking and are less likely to report an early start of sexual life. Odds of cigarette smoking and regular alcohol consumption increase with age. Children living with one parent have significantly higher odds of smoking, regular alcohol consumption and current cannabis use. Interactions between FAS and family support reveal that students who report low family support, regardless of the material status of the family, have significantly higher odds of health risk behaviours.ConclusionThe main contribution of the analysis reveals the alleviating effect of family support on socio-economic inequalities between families. An evidence-based approach delineating a preventive potential of family support on Bulgarian adolescents’ health risk behaviours despite the level of family affluence provides solid arguments for increasing national family support programs.

Adolescent risk behaviours and family settings in Bulgaria: An evidence-based approach to effective family support policies

Journal of Mother and Child

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

BackgroundThe paper focuses on Bulgarian adolescents’ behaviours that put their health at risk and their relationship to family-related characteristics:...

Adolescent risk behaviours and family settings in Bulgaria: An evidence-based approach to effective family support policies

Article Category: Original research

Published Online: Apr 30, 2022

Page range: 139 - 150

Received: May 12, 2021

Accepted: Jul 22, 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.34763/jmotherandchild.20212503SI.d-21-00013

Keywords
Family setting, interaction of family affluence and family support, cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, cannabis use, sexual debut, parental component in health promotion programs

© 2021 Elitsa Dimitrova and Tatyana Kotzeva, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Adolescent risk behaviours and family settings in Bulgaria: An evidence-based approach to effective family support policies

Article Category: Original research

Published Online: Apr 30, 2022

Page range: 139 - 150

Received: May 12, 2021

Accepted: Jul 22, 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.34763/jmotherandchild.20212503SI.d-21-00013

KeywordsFamily setting, interaction of family affluence and family support, cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, cannabis use, sexual debut, parental component in health promotion programs

© 2021 Elitsa Dimitrova and Tatyana Kotzeva, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Keywords
Family setting, interaction of family affluence and family support, cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, cannabis use, sexual debut, parental component in health promotion programs