Attitudes towards addictive behaviors promoting and preventive advertising among Lithuanian schoolchildren

Aim: To evaluate attitudes between Lithuanian school children towards addictive behaviors, its preventive and promoting factors. Materials and methods: The survey was conducted in 7 Lithuanian schools, including fifth, ninth and twelfth-grade students (n=409). 46,9 % of participants were boys (n=192) and 53,1 % (n=217) were girls. The study included 30,8 % (n=126) children living in rural and 30,8 % (n=126) living in urban areas. Anonymous surveys included information of demographic data, questions about addictive behaviors, it’s promoting and preventing factors, most noticeable advertisements prevention programs. Data analysis was made with SPSS 13.0. Differences between the groups were calculated using Person’s Chi-square, statistical significance was set at p<0.05 Results: 34,7 % of the participants answered they had addictive behaviors. Most frequently it was computer gaming (21,8 %), smoking (16,1 %) and light alcohol beverages usage (15,6 %). Computer gaming was the least considered to be addictive. The strongest influence causing wish to try addictive behaviors was curiosity (54,8 %), parents were the most mentioned factor preventing it (78,0 %). Abstaining factors were fear to harm one’s health (78,5 %), ruining one’s life (70,7 %) and personal beliefs (53,1 %). The most noticeable advertisements were betting (70,9 %), light alcohol beverages (46,0 %) and strong alcohol beverages (44,5 %). Lessons at school were the most memorable preventive programs, children actively suggested to organize them more often. Addictive behaviors prevalence significantly increased with the grade (p<0,001). Fifth graders most frequently played computer games, ninth graders – smoked and twelfth graders – drank light alcohol beverages. Magazines, newspapers had a stronger influence to fifth graders (p<0,001), ninth graders were more curious (p<0,01), followed their personal beliefs less (p<0,01). Twelfth graders used illegal drugs more (p<0,01). Parents (p<0,03) and friends (p