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BACKGROUND: The internet is an integral part of today's life; therefore, the risk of internet addiction is very high. The current consequences of internet addiction are not comparable to those of other types of addiction. However, internet addiction may be a serious problem in the future. For this reason, this issue should be addressed today. AIMS: The primary objective of the study was to assess the differences in internet addiction between males and females in a sample of university students in the Slovak Republic. Differences were assessed in the total internet addiction score, as well as in the individual sub-scales of the Internet Addiction Test (IAT) (Salience, Excessive Use, Neglect Work, Anticipation, Lack of Control, Neglect Social Life). METHODS: A questionnaire survey was conducted in 2020. The objective of the study was mainly achieved using the non-parametric Mann-Whitney test. SAMPLE: The population was selected in the form of a non-random sample and consists of 1612 responses from students of Slovak universities. Data obtainedusing the standardized IAT scale was included in the analyses. RESULTS: The overall rate of internet addiction in theresearch sample was not critical, while increased scores were found in the Neglect Work, Anticipation, andLack of Control sub-scales. Significant differences were identified in the areas of Salience, Excessive Use,Neglect Work, and Neglect Social Life. In general, male students showed a higher rate of internet addiction. CONCLUSIONS: Internet addiction in high-risk population groups should be systematically monitored. The lifestyle of university students may be a predictor of these addictions, which may be a serious problem in the future.
BACKGROUND: In addition to the health aspect of alcohol consumption, social and economic aspects should not be overlooked, as there is also evidence of a critical situation in these dimensions. AIM: The aim of the review was to point out the economic and social consequences of alcohol consumption. DESIGN: The study was performed on the basis of analysis and synthesis of scientific knowledge from almost 50 scientific studies. RESULTS: Alcohol consumption is influenced by the drinking culture, which differs from country to country and from society to society. These differences stem from social values, beliefs, and attitudes, but also public policies. The public policies should be aimed at reducing alcohol consumption in general, but in particular excessive consumption with a risk of alcohol addiction. Although alcohol consumption can be economically beneficial, its negatives for public health, society, and economic life far outweigh any benefits. In this sense, it is possible to talk about premature mortality, poor health, alcohol- related costs, lost productivity, and crime, but also the stigmatization of consumers and their families. CONCLUSIONS: The population should be educated about alcohol and its consumption should be monitored responsibly. Restrictive measures (higher taxes, advertising bans, restrictions on purchases) appear to be an effective way of reducing consumption.
BACKGROUND: Increased alcohol consumption is generally considered to be a very negative matter affecting the socio-economic status of countries. Different types of alcohol pose different risks. Therefore, mapping the alcohol consumption and alcohol preferences of different countries is a very important step in the process of reducing geographical disparities. AIM: The primary objective of this study was to determine the differences in alcohol consumption and alcohol preferences in OECD countries. DESIGN AND MEASUREMENT (METHODS): Non-parametric analysis of difference (Kruskal-Wallis test) and cluster analysis (hierarchical clustering – Ward’s method) were used to achieve the main objective. SAMPLE (PARTICIPANTS): The analytical process involved 36 OECD countries and the data that was analysed was divided into the following main categories of alcohol consumption: (i) beer, (ii) wine, (iii), spirits, (iv) other, and (v) all. Data was collected from 2010 to 2018. RESULTS: The differences between the countries that were analysed were significant for all the selected variables (beer, wine, spirits, other, and all), but there was no significant difference between the years that were analysed. The findings show that the highest total alcohol consumption was in Estonia. The Czech Republic showed the highest beer consumption and France was the dominant country in wine consumption. The highest consumption of spirits was found in Estonia and other types of alcoholic beverages were preferred in Korea. The highest total alcohol consumption was found in Eastern Europe. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlighted the need for an effective intervention strategy to control alcohol consumption in developed countries. Drinking spirits and beer is the riskiest, and therefore education and prevention should focus on areas with a higher consumption of these types of alcoholic beverages.
BACKGROUND: The theoretical background of the study shows the importance of the issue of smoking behaviour, especially in the case of students. Despite the declining trend of smoking in recent decades, it is still one of the leading causes of death, disease, and mental disorders worldwide. AIM: The main objective of the study is to evaluate the incidence of smoking in the population of university students in the territory geographically determined by the Slovak Republic. DESIGN AND MEASUREMENTS (METHODS): The data was obtained by questioning and the collection itself was carried out via an electronically distributed questionnaire in 2020. Frequency analysis and Pearson’s χ2 test were used to meet the above-mentioned objective. SAMPLE (PARTICIPANTS): The sampling can be characterized by a combination of selection based on voluntariness and availability, and after that quota selection was applied to complete the representativeness of the sample. Excluding the invalid observations, the sample consists of 1612 responses of students of Slovak universities. The analyses included the identification variables (Gender, Degree of Study, Year of Study, Form of Study, Residence – home, Residence – school), also included the dichotomous variable determining smoking and the Glover-Nilsson Smoking Behavioural Questionnaire (GNSBQ) scale. RESULTS: In general, from the results it can be seen that about one-third of the students (36.36%) are smokers. Using the GNSBQ scale, Mild Addiction was observed in 55.06% of cases, followed by Moderate Addiction (33.16%) and Strong Addiction (10.82%), and the smallest group of smokers showed Very Strong Addiction (0.94%). Looking at the differences between smokers and non-smokers, as well as at the differences between the chosen identification variables in the GNSBQ categories of smokers, it is not possible to speak of differences that would clearly distinguish a smoker from a non-smoker. CONCLUSIONS: One of the riskiest periods of life in terms of acquiring smoking habits is the period of studying at university. Prevention and awareness of the harmful effects of smoking is therefore necessary for students.
BACKGROUND: The development of society and the close connection of everyday life with the internet have brought a new type of non-substance addiction – internet addiction. Although the relationship between internet addiction and health has been confirmed and the importance of this issue has been emphasized, it has not been sufficiently examined in European countries. AIMS: The main objective of the study was to assess the significance of the relationship between internet addiction and health perception in a sample of university students in the Slovak Republic. DESIGN AND MEASUREMENTS (METHODS): Data was collected using a questionnaire distributed in 2020. The objective was achieved using descriptive analysis and correlation analysis, but mainly quartile regression analysis. SAMPLE (PARTICIPANTS): The sample was created by a combination of selection based on availability (voluntariness) and later quota selection. The study sample consisted of 1612 responses of Slovak university students. The analyses included data on internet addiction (IA) and health perception (HP). RESULTS:Health perception among the Slovak university students showed relatively positive values. Internet addiction-related values suggested normal levels of internet use among the Slovak students. Problematic behaviour was found in approximately 33% of the sample that was analysed. Less than one per cent of the respondents could be assessed as severely addicted. The effect of IA on HP has also been proved and confirmed. Overall, it can be concluded that there is a negative effect of internet addiction on health perception, i.e. HP decreases with increasing IA. CONCLUSIONS: Internet addiction prevention and education should not be underestimated. The development of society and the tendency of the population to non-substance addictions can currently be considered a major threat for the future.
BACKGROUND: The relationship between the consumption of alcoholic beverages and the economic outputs of countries is generally perceived negatively. Recent studies suggest that there is a difference in the effect of different types of alcohol on economic outputs. AIMS: The objective of the present study was to evaluate the relations between alcohol consumption and household income inequality in OECD countries, with a primary focus on selected types of alcoholic beverages. METHODS: In order to achieve this objective, a non-parametric analysis of relationships (Spearman ρ) and a regression analysis (Instrumental Variables Estimator – Two-Stage Least Squares Regression Analysis) were used. SAMPLE: The countries of the OECD were included in the analyses. The analytical focus was on three dominant types of alcoholic beverages: beer, wine, spirits. Alcohol consumption was expressed in litres of pure alcohol per person over the age of 15 in each country. RESULTS: In OECD countries, beer is the most preferred alcoholic beverage, followed by wine, and spirits are the least preferred. The consumption of beer and wine was significantly related to the Gini coefficient. Thus, an increase in the consumption of beer or wine can be associated with a decrease in the Gini coefficient. In terms of the effects of individual alcoholic beverages on inequality in household income, wine was evaluated most positively, as its increased consumption can lead to a reduction in household income inequality. Spirits had the opposite effect; i.e. increased consumption may increase household income inequality. CONCLUSIONS: Prevention and education should focus on reducing the consumption of spirits, and fiscal interventions such as taxes can also be an effective solution. Alcohol consumption is a cultural aspect that is difficult to eliminate. Therefore, it would be more beneficial to replace spirits with wine.
BACKGROUND: The consumption of different types of alcoholic beverages leads to different health risks. Therefore, different effects on the health of the population can be expected. AIM: The main objective of the study was to assess the relations between the consumption of selected types of alcoholic beverages and the life expectancy of the population in OECD countries. METHODS: Non-parametric analysis of relationships (Spearman ρ) and simple linear quartile regression analysis were used to meet the objective. SAMPLE:The research covered 36 countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). In the analytical procedures, four main types of alcoholic beverage were used: (i) beer, (ii) wine, (iii), spirits, (iv) other. The consumption of individual types of alcohol in each country was expressed in litres of pure alcohol per person (aged 15+ years) per year. The analysis also included a health variable determining life expectancy at birth. All data was collected for the period from 2010 to 2017. RESULTS: In terms of the consumption of common types of alcoholic beverages (beer, wine, spirits), a significant effect on life expectancy was found. Beer and spirits showed a negative effect, i.e. with increased consumption of beer and spirits, a decrease in life expectancy can be expected. On the other hand, wine consumption had a positive effect on life expectancy. A significant positive relationship was identified between the consumption of beer and of spirits, i.e. with an increase in the consumption of beer, an increase in the consumption of spirits can be expected. CONCLUSIONS:Prevention and education should focus in particular on the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, as higher consumption of beer and spirits was found in some of these countries. Lower alcohol consumption in these countries could have a positive effect on life expectancy.
BACKGROUND: Smoking seems to be one of the serious health problems of present-day society, even in developed countries. In addition, smoking and its consequences may have a significant impact on health expenditure. AIM: Objective of the study is to determine the impact of smoking on health expenditure in a sample of the OECD member countries. DESIGN AND MEASUREMENTS (METHODS):Analytical procedures examine data from 2011 to 2018. Six variables, including two dependent (Health expenditure in US Dollars per capita and Health expenditure (% of GDP)) and four independent variables focused on smoking and tobacco consumption. SAMPLE: The sample consisted of all the OECD countries. RESULTS: For the variable identifying healthcare funding in terms of GDP, a impact was evident in smokers over 15 years of age, as well as those in the age range from 15 to 24 years. In the case of health expenditure per capita, an impact appeared only in smokers over 15 years of age. A medium-to-substantial rate of relation was identified in the link between health expenditure per capita and both smokers aged over 15 and smokers aged between 15 and 24. The relations that were analysed were negative. CONCLUSIONS:The results of the present study show that smoking has a negative impact on health expenditure.