BIRTH ORDER AND RISKY BEHAVIOR AMONG YOUTH

Rizično ponašanje može se definirati kao ponašanje s neželjenim posljedicama za osobu koja ga ispoljava te je u ovom istraživanju predstavljeno u vidu konzumacije alkohola, pušenja duhana i marihuane. Neka istraživanja navode kako značajna odrednica rizičnog ponašanja moţe biti i redoslijed rođenja. Redna pozicija koju pojedinac stječe rođenjem unutar obitelji predstavlja njegov redoslijed rođenja. Pregledom dostupnih studija vezane tematike, pokazalo se kako su kasnije rođena djeca buntovnija u odnosu na prvorođenu djecu (Paulhus i sur., 1999; Healey i Ellis, 2007, prema Eckstein i sur., 2010). Za djecu koja imaju stariju braću/sestre vjerojatnije je da će iskazivati rizično ponašanje kao što je konzumacija alkohola, duhana i marihuane što se može smatrati činom bunta (Argys i sur., 2006; Laird i Shelton, 2006; Averett i sur., 2011; Horner i sur., 2012). Glavni cilj ovog istraživanja bio je utvrditi stupnju rizičnog ponašanja mladih u vidu konzumacije duhana, marihuane i alkohola s obzirom na redoslijed rođenja određen Adlerovom, dihotomnom, serijalnom i kontinuiranom metodom. Istraživanje je provedeno na uzorku od 266 sudionika (63 sudionika i 203 sudionice) u dobi od 18 do 28 godina. Kako bi se odgovorilo na postavljene probleme, primjenjen je on-line upitnik kojim su prikupljeni podaci o redoslijedu rođenja sudionika i njihovoj razini rizičnog ponašanja. Obradom podataka nisu utvrđene razlike u razini rizičnog ponašanja obzirom na redoslijed rođenja što se može objasniti metodološkim nedostacima istraživanja. Nadalje, nije utvrđena značajna povezanost redoslijeda rođenja određenog različitim metodama s pušenjem cigareta i marihuane te konzumacijom alkohola.Risky behavior can be defined as behavior with adverse consequences for the person who manifests it and in this study is presented in the form of alcohol consumption, smoking tobacco and marijuana. Some studies suggest that birth order is a significant determinant of risky behavior. Ordinal position that one gain by birth within the family represents his birth order. A review of available related studies showed that later born children are more rebellious compared to the first-born children (Paulhus et al., 1999; Healey and Ellis, 2007, according to Eckstein et al., 2010). Children who have older siblings are more likely to exhibit risky behaviors such as alcohol consumption, smoking tobacco and marijuana that can be considered as an act of rebellion (Argys et al., 2006; Laird and Shelton, 2006; Averett et al., 2011; Horner et al., 2012). The main aim of this study was to determine the level of risky behavior among young people in the form of tobacco, marijuana and alcohol consumption considering birth order measured by Adler's, dichotomous, serial and continuous method. The study was conducted on a sample of 266 participants (63 males and 203 females) between the ages of 18-28 years. In order to provide an answer to these problems, an on-line questionnaire, which collected data about participants birth order and their level of risky behavior, was applied. The analysis of the data showed no difference in the level of risky behavior due to the birth order that can be explained by methodological shortcomings of the research. Furthermore, no significant correlations between birth order measured by various methods and tobacco, marijuana and alcohol consumption were found