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Aim. The main aim of the research was to identify factors (risk and protective) associated with the occurrence of mental health problems in adolescents. Method. The study group consisted of elementary and junior high school students from Ilawa aged 13-15 years (N = 574). The self-administered, anonymous questionnaire had been completed during school lessons. Two groups of mental health problems were included in the study: internalizing (depressive symptoms and emotional problems) and externalizing (use of psychoactive substances, aggressive behavior, delinquency), as well as a number of psychosocial factors (parental support and control, school bonding, peer influence, victimization, leisure activities). Hierarchical logistic regression models with Wald statistics were used to identify risk and protective factors. Results. Parental support and control appeared to be universal protective factors that reduce the risk of both internalizing and externalizing problems. On the other hand, being a victim of peer violence and spending a lot of time on e-contacts appeared to be risk factors for both groups of adolescent mental health problems. In addition, sex, negative peer influences, school bonding, and use of computer/video games were important factors in the regression models. Conclusions. Prevention of mental health problems should be directed to educating parents in the skills of support and monitoring adolescents, strengthening school bonding, and resilience to negative peer influence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim. The aim of the study was to estimate the prevalence of mental health problems in subpopulation of Warsaw adolescents and to identify trends in 2004-2016. Method. The cross-sectional study, conducted every four years, covered the third grade Warsaw middle school students from three Warsaw districts: Mokotów, Ursynów and Wilanów. Sample was randomly selected with the adjustment for cluster selection. The self-administered questionnaire had been completed during school lessons. Indicators were related to following problems: (1) internalizing (symptoms of depression measured by the shortened CES-D scale and other emotional problems, based on subjective assessment); (2) externalizing - coexistence of two out of three types of behaviors (psychoactive substances abuse, being perpetrator of violence and delinquent behavior); (3) mixed. Results. In 2016, 42% of youth exhibited symptoms of mental health disorders. These problems more often affected girls (48%) than boys (36%). Between 2008 and 2016, the percentage of young people experiencing internalizing problems increased significantly. This was due to the increase in the prevalence of depressive symptoms. At the same time, there was a significant decrease in the percentage of young people demonstrating externalizing problems. The last result was a consequence of the decrease in substance abuse and violence. Conclusions. Growing prevalence of internalizing problems, depressive symptoms and other emotional problems among teenagers indicates an urgent need to develop or adapt effective prevention programs and to improve the access to psychological and psychiatric support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim. The aim of this research was to assess the delayed effects of a two-year alcohol prevention program implemented in Polish primary schools. Method. The program comprised two curricula implemented the school and in family houses: Program Domowych Detektywów and Fantastyczne Możliwości. Both curricula were the Polish versions of two American school-based prevention programs which belonged to Project Northland. The initial study sample (N=802) comprised 10 to 11 years old pupils (fourth and fifth-grade) from eight primary schools in Warsaw. Schools were randomly assigned to the intervention (n=421) and the reference group (n=381). A self-completion questionnaire was administered to students four times: at the baseline, seven, fifteen and twenty seven months after. Results. The program had an expected influence on the students' attitudes, knowledge and resistance skills towards alcohol. The effects on the participants' initiation of drunkenness and their first experience in alcohol use with their peers have also been reported. Most of the positive effects remained significant over time. Conclusions. The effectiveness of the program, as shown by the outcome evaluation, supports an argument for its wide implementation in Polish schools. Further progress in the field of alcohol and drug prevention in Poland depends on overcoming the existing barriers in this area of public health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]