Porilaisten yhdeksäsluokkalaisten ja kasvattajien käsityksiä nuorten alkoholinkäytöstä ja alkoholinkäytön ehkäisystä

Views of ninth graders, educators and parents in Pori, Finland on adolescent alcohol use and on preventing alcohol useThe purpose of this research was to examine, first, alcohol use by ninth grade comprehensive school students as part of adolescent culture and, second, health promotion related to preventing alcohol use as described by adolescents themselves, their parents, teachers and school nurses. For the purposes of this study, the availability of alcohol, attitudes, causes and effects concerning alcohol use as well as preventing alcohol use constituted alcohol use. The research goal was to obtain extensive background information to prepare recommendations for a strategy to prevent adolescent alcohol use. One of the goals of social and health policy in Finland since the 1990’s has been restraining excessive adolescent alcohol use.Methodological triangulation was employed for this study. Questionnaire data were collected from ninth grade students (n=181) of two schools in Pori, Finland and their parents (n=110). Thematic interview data were collected from teachers (n=10) and school nurses (n=4). The questionnaire data from students were further enhanced by group interviews of adolescents (n=24, 4 groups). The questionnaire data were analysed statistically. The interviews were analysed inductively by using qualitative content analysis.There were significant differences between the adolescent and parental views on alcohol use, with adolescents using alcohol more commonly than parents assumed. Differences between boys and girls were minor, yet girls used alcohol more frequently than boys did. Adolescents were able to obtain alcohol easily from various sources, including their parents. Approximately one half of students felt that instruction for preventing alcohol use and programmes by school nurses were boring, partially useless. The parents were of the opinion that obtaining alcohol was too easy and that alcohol caused problems for many adolescents. The adolescents felt that alcohol was an essential element of ...