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Saturday, January 5, 2008

Warsaw adolescent alcohol use in a period of social change in Poland: Cluster analyses of five consecutive surveys, 1988 to 2004
Addictive Behaviors Volume 33, Issue 3, March 2008, Pages 439-450

This study aimed to analyze changes in patterns of alcohol use from 1988 to 2004 amongst Polish (Warsaw) 15-year olds.

In 1988 a two-step cluster analysis was used to identify four distinct natural groups of drinkers “light”, “heavier”, “beer and wine” and “wine” drinkers.

Between 1988 and 1992 the percentage of teenage infrequent drinkers decreased and the rate of heavy drinkers increased. A group of students drinking only beer appeared, whilst the group of wine drinkers disappeared.

A group of students who drank alcohol to get drunk appeared in 1996.

Between 2000 and 2004 drinking of various kinds of alcoholic beverages became more frequent, as did vodka abuse. Increased consumption amongst girls was also observed.

The results are interpreted in the context of social change and several hypothetical causes of gender differences are discussed.


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Request Reprint E-Mail: kokulicz@ipin.edu.pl

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