Alcohol consumption among Ukrainian adolescents: family and pandemic factors

Abstract

Introduction The first purpose of this research was to estimate the prevalence of alcohol drinking and drunkenness among adolescents in the urban, suburban and rural populations in the Lviv region of Ukraine. The second purpose was to analyse the relationship between family, pandemic, socio-demographic factors and alcohol-related behaviours among adolescents.

Material and methods Data were collected in 2020 in three populations of Ukrainian adolescents aged 13-15 living in Lviv (N = 1085) in the small town of Drohobych (N = 499) and surrounding countryside (N = 454). Due to pandemic restrictions, an online questionnaire was used in Lviv, while a traditional paper questionnaire was circulated in Drohobych and the countryside. The questionnaire and methodology were taken from the Polish Mokotów Study.

Results The results of the study indicate that rural youth drink alcohol and get drunk significantly more often than their urban peers. Alcohol-use rates in the countryside were twice as high as in Lviv. About 47% of youth drank alcohol in the company of their parents, with significantly more girls drinking with their parents. Regression analysis suggested that parental factors play a significant role in adolescent children alcohol-related behaviours. Parental monitoring and support proved to be protective factors, but the tradition of drinking with parents appeared to be a strong risk factor for adolescent drunkenness. Poor pandemic coping was found to be a risk factor for adolescent alcohol use.

Discussion The study confirms the significant role of the residential environment, family factors as well as the role of pandemic coping in adolescents’ alcohol behaviour. Some Ukrainian parents share a culture of consuming light alcoholic beverages with their adolescent children, although this culture might be risky for adolescent children. Detailed discussion about all these issues is provided. Conclusions Our study provides an interesting contribution to research on adolescent alcohol use and abuse in Eastern Europe. The results indicate the need to develop and implement preventive measures aimed at strengthening parenting skills and help them to reduce negative social influences. Practical implications are provided.