THE SIGNIFICANT DETERMINANTS OF SUBSTANCE USE AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE FROM SECONDARY SCHOOL

Abstract

The aim of the study was to identify both protective and risk factors for substance use among secondary school students. The research sample consisted of 726 secondary school students from Slovakia, aged from 11 to 19 years (431 girls, 295 boys). Within the framework of quantitatively oriented research, two areas have been monitored through the author’s questionnaire: Free time and emotions experienced in the family. The data was analysed through factor and regression analysis. To the basic results of the research belong the findings that the active spending of free time and the experiencing of positive emotions within the family are a protective factor in relation to substance use. The adolescents’ spending of free time with parents had no effect on substance use. Conversely, passive spending of free time was associated with a higher frequency of substance use.