The connection between the family’s socioeconomic status and the consumption of cigarettes, alcohol and marijuana in adolescents of the Brčko District of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Abstract

Introduction/Objective The objective of this paper was to determine the connection between the socio-economic status (SES) of the respondents and cigarette smoking and the use of alcohol and marijuana. Is there a connection between the SES respondents and their gender and place of residence?

Methods A total of 4188 primary and secondary school respondents from Brčko District of Bosna and Herzegovina participated in a cross-sectional study based on the European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs questionnaire, adapted to this research. The data was collected using the questionnaire prepared for each respondent. Data on gender, marital status, occupation, and professional qualifications of parents were used to determine a family’s SES according to the Hollingshead methodology.

Results Alcohol and marijuana use are in relation to SES respondents (p < 0.001 or p = 0.008): respondents living in low-SES families use alcohol or marijuana at a lower percentage than respondents from middle-SES or high-SES families. Smoking habits are not in relation to SES respondents (p = 0.678). The place of residence is connected to SES respondents (p < 0.001): more respondents from low-SES families live in rural areas, while those from medium-SES and high-SES families predominantly live in urban areas.

Conclusion The SES of the respondents is in relation to their place of residence, alcohol and marijuana use, but it is not related to cigarette smoking.

Keywords: SES; alcohol; cigarettes; marijuana, rural; urban