Nour Jabbour1, Vanessa Abi Rached1, Chadia Haddad2,3, Pascale Salameh4,5,6, Hala Sacre4, Rabih Hallit1, Michel Soufia1,5, Sahar Obeid2,4,7, Souheil Hallit8,9. 1. Faculty of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK), Jounieh, Lebanon. 2. Research and Psychology Departments, Psychiatric Hospital of the Cross, Jal Eddib, Lebanon. 3. Université de Limoges, UMR 1094, Neuroépidémiologie Tropicale, Institut d'Epidémiologie et de Neurologie Tropicale, GEIST, 87000, Limoges, France. 4. INSPECT-LB. Institut National de Santé Publique, Épidémiologie Clinique et Toxicologie - Liban, Beirut, Lebanon. 5. Faculty of Medicine, Lebanese University, Hadat, Lebanon. 6. Faculty of Pharmacy, Lebanese University, Hadat, Lebanon. 7. Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK), Jounieh, Lebanon. 8. Faculty of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK), Jounieh, Lebanon. souheilhallit@hotmail.com. 9. INSPECT-LB. Institut National de Santé Publique, Épidémiologie Clinique et Toxicologie - Liban, Beirut, Lebanon. souheilhallit@hotmail.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Since divorce rates are on the rise in Lebanon (an increase of 101% between 2006 and 2017) and since previous international studies have shown a relationship between divorced parents and adolescents' addiction to smoking, alcohol, and the internet, assessing the background of the Lebanese situation was deemed necessary. The study objective was to investigate the association between the divorce of parents and smoking, alcohol, and internet addiction among a representative sample of Lebanese adolescents. METHODS: This study was a cross-sectional, conducted between January and May 2019 using a proportionate random sample of schools from all Lebanese Mohafazat. Out of 2000 questionnaires distributed; 1810 (90.5%) were completed and collected back. RESULTS: The mean age was 15.42 ± 1.14 years, with 53.3% females and 74.1% smokers. In addition, 11.9% [95% CI 0.104-0.134] of the adolescents had separated/divorced parents. Divorce in parents was significantly associated with higher alcohol use disorder (Beta = 8.035), higher cigarette dependence (Beta = 2.767) and a higher waterpipe dependence (Beta = 5.263) in adolescents. However, divorce in parents was not associated with internet addiction in adolescents. CONCLUSION: Parental divorce is correlated to higher alcohol and smoking, but not internet addiction among adolescents. Children whose parents are divorced should be subject to continuous follow-up by their parents and by a psychiatrist/psychologist in order not to develop an addiction that could potentially harm them.
BACKGROUND: Since divorce rates are on the rise in Lebanon (an increase of 101% between 2006 and 2017) and since previous international studies have shown a relationship between divorced parents and adolescents' addiction to smoking, alcohol, and the internet, assessing the background of the Lebanese situation was deemed necessary. The study objective was to investigate the association between the divorce of parents and smoking, alcohol, and internet addiction among a representative sample of Lebanese adolescents. METHODS: This study was a cross-sectional, conducted between January and May 2019 using a proportionate random sample of schools from all Lebanese Mohafazat. Out of 2000 questionnaires distributed; 1810 (90.5%) were completed and collected back. RESULTS: The mean age was 15.42 ± 1.14 years, with 53.3% females and 74.1% smokers. In addition, 11.9% [95% CI 0.104-0.134] of the adolescents had separated/divorced parents. Divorce in parents was significantly associated with higher alcohol use disorder (Beta = 8.035), higher cigarette dependence (Beta = 2.767) and a higher waterpipe dependence (Beta = 5.263) in adolescents. However, divorce in parents was not associated with internet addiction in adolescents. CONCLUSION: Parental divorce is correlated to higher alcohol and smoking, but not internet addiction among adolescents. Children whose parents are divorced should be subject to continuous follow-up by their parents and by a psychiatrist/psychologist in order not to develop an addiction that could potentially harm them.
Authors: Titik Juwariah; Fendy Suhariadi; Oedojo Soedirham; Agus Priyanto; Erni Setiyorini; Auliasari Siskaningrum; Heni Adhianata; Angelina da Costa Fernandes Journal: J Public Health Res Date: 2022-08-28