Background: despite growing interest in Internet addiction disorder (Iad) among the high school population, very little is known about the potential risks of the use of the Internet for university students. The present survey aimed to collect information on Internet usage patterns in a group of Italian university students. Methods: the sample comprised 600 Italian university students enrolled in various faculties, in two different universities: catania (n=300; 150 males and 150 females) and Palermo (n=300; 150 males and 150 females). The diagnostic Questionnaire for Iad based on 8 criteria was used to categorize the Internet users. In order to better describe students’ Internet usage patterns, 4 other criteria were added. chi-square test (P<0.05) was applied to examine differences between the two groups of students (catania versus Palermo), and for comparisons between male and female students. Results: respondents were ‘minimal’ (82.5%) or ‘moderate’ (17.5%) Internet users. none of the enrolled university students met the criteria of definite Iad, although a fairly high level of at-risk Internet attitudes and behaviors was found. Finally, some gender differences in Internet attitudes and behaviors were found. Conclusions: the implications drawn from this study, including the adequacy of the available measurement instruments for Iad, are discussed....
Background: Obesity is actually a discernible issue in prosperous western society and is dramatically increasing in children and adolescents. Many studies indicate that obesity in childhood may become chronic disease in adulthood and, particularly, those who are severely overweight have an increased risk of death by cardiovascular disease. Understanding the determinants of life style and behavior in a person’s youth and making attempts to change children’s habits is considered a key strategy in the primary prevention of obesity. This study aims to find a correlation between Body Mass Index, (BMI), physical activity and eating behavior and to identify, eventually, risks, protective factors and possible directions for interventions on incorrect nutritional/physical activity and intra-familiar life styles in a sample of young adolescents in a small town of Western Sicily. Methods: The research surveyed the entire population of the last three curricular years of two Primary Schools in a town of western Sicily, (n=294). The instrument used for the survey was a questionnaire containing 20 different items with multiple choices answers. Personal information, physical activity and eating behaviors were collected both for parents and students to cross students’ and parents’ characteristics. Data were codified and statistical analysis was computed through Statistica and Openstat software. Results: Data obtained demonstrated a relevant percentage (18%) of obese children. Prevalence of overweight was high as well, (23%), and many in this area (12%) were at risk since they were on the limits of the lower class. A significant association was found between the percentage of students classified as having an elevated BMI and a sedentary habit and/or an incorrect eating behavior. Among the overweight and obese children a direct statistical association was also shown between the weight of their parents and some daily life styles. An inverse association, on the contrary, was observed between those variables and the cultural level of the family. Cultural level, in fact, was significantly associated with having breakfast, fruit and vegetable consumption and practice of physical exercise. Multi linear regression analysis showed the weight of some independent variables which were more strictly correlated with children’s BMI. Conclusions: Increasing the proportion of adolescents meeting recommended dietary and physical activity guidelines has been identified as an important strategy to contrast the epidemic increase in obesity, especially in western countries. This study stressed the need to increase the knowledge and monitoring of the consequent behaviors of adolescents with regards to dietary habits and the practice of physical activity. School, communities and families are considered the best pathways to disseminate correct information and knowledge and the more suitable channels to raise the awareness of the importance of correct dieting and regular physical activity School and community-based intervention programs are, then, strongly requested to activate preventive actions early in life and mainly in the development age. The importance of the family andof the social context factors in health behavior was also emphasized. A familiar eco-systemic model that takes into account the whole bio-social-psychological aspects was also sustained for a global therapeutic approach to the obese child.
Background: Young people are attracted by body art and consider it as a way of being “different”. Body art(tattoos, piercing, etc.) represents an important socio-cultural phenomenon which is not risk free for health.Existing literature, moreover, points out that deviant behaviours and unhealthy lifestyles are significantlyassociated with body art.Objective and methods: The research was aimed to describe the knowledge, attitudes, and practices ofuniversity students towards body art, highlighting the association between body art and some demographicvariables, deviant behaviours, unhealthy lifestyles, knowledge of health risks and medical complicationspotentially involved. Data came from a cross-sectional study conducted on a sample, selected at random, of1.200 undergraduate university students, (570, human sciences; 630, scientific areas). The instrument for thesurvey was a 21 item multiple choice questionnaire. Data was codified and statistical analysis was computedthrough Epi-Info and Openstat software.Results: Students from a scientific background showed a higher rate of interest, (p<0.01) for the argumentof body art. About one third of the surveyed individuals had at least one body art. Cultural choice and genderwas associated with body art. Males, especially from the scientific area, were more attracted by temporarybody art, while females preferred permanent tattoos. Students from humanistic backgrounds were associatedwith one body art and those from a scientific area with more than one (p<0.01). Unemployment, lack ofpartnership and family attitude towards body art, were positively associated with students’ body art. Bodyart was strictly associated with different unhealthy lifestyles, such as drug, alcohol and tobacco consumption,problem gambling and sexual activity before 18 years of age. A relevant part of students considered piercingand tattooing as having no consequences for infections and/or disease.Conclusions: Body art was associated with unhealthy lifestyles and may be considered an indicator of risktaking behaviours. Individuals had no accurate idea of the consequences for their health and body, apart froma generic risk of infections. Education is a necessary tool for the modification of lifestyles and as a form ofprevention ensuring the correct understanding and assessment of the health risk involved
Background: The main purpose of this study was to identify and describe knowledge, beliefs and attitudestowards HIV infection and risky sexual behaviour in female medical freshmen in order to evaluate thepossibility of female medical student-based peer education.Methods: Researchers surveyed 560 freshmen: 280 medical students and 280 non medical students at twoItalian Universities, collecting the data through anonymous, self-administered questionnaires. Data werecodified and statistical analysis was computed using Statistica and Openstat 4 software.Results: Female medical freshmen showed higher levels of knowledge and risk perception about HIVinfection, and higher levels of self-awareness in preventing infection when compared with non-medicalfreshmen. Moreover, medical student’s had a lower rate of sexual activity and a higher rate of condom usage.Conclusions: Our data leads to the hypothesis that the involvement of female medical students in developingand providing safe sex education may be an important and effective way of better enhancing young people’sknowledge, attitude and behaviour towards the prevention of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections
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