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Objectives: Regular monitoring of health-related behaviours among vulnerable populations is of public health importance. This study examines trends in cigarette smoking among Czech adolescents followi…

Objectives: Regular monitoring of health-related behaviours among vulnerable populations is of public health importance. This study examines trends in cigarette smoking among Czech adolescents following the marked changes reported in the mid-2010s. Methods: Data from three recent rounds of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study conducted in Czechia in 2014, 2018, and 2022 were analysed. Temporal trends were assessed for two indicators of adolescent cigarette use: (i) lifetime cigarette use and (ii) cigarette use in the last 30 days. Binary logistic regression was used to test for temporal changes between survey periods. In 2022, the same two indicators were also calculated for electronic cigarette use. Results: A continuing decline in adolescent cigarette use was observed for both indicators, extending the trends reported in the mid-2010s into the 2020s. However, the findings also highlight the increasing prevalence of electronic cigarette use among Czech adolescents. Conclusions: Although conventional cigarette use among adolescents continues to decline, the growing popularity of electronic cigarettes undermines efforts to reduce overall nicotine exposure and, in the long term, could counteract the intended trends in nicotine-related harms.

Objective: This study aimed to examine long-term trends in Czech adolescents’ perceptions of school climate between 1994 and 2022, focusing on school satisfaction, perceived school pressure, and…

Objective: This study aimed to examine long-term trends in Czech adolescents’ perceptions of school climate between 1994 and 2022, focusing on school satisfaction, perceived school pressure, and perceived social support from classmates and teachers. Methods: Data were drawn from eight cycles of the Czech Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study, encompassing responses from 63,252 students aged 11, 13, and 15. Binary logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess temporal trends and associations between school climate indicators and demographic variables, including gender, age, and family affluence. Results: Findings revealed a pronounced decline in school satisfaction and a significant increase in perceived school pressure, with 2022 showing the lowest satisfaction and highest pressure levels. Perceived support from classmates and teachers declined, especially among students in older age groups and among girls. Socioeconomic disparities had a modest but consistent impact, with students from more affluent backgrounds reporting more favorable school experiences. Conclusions: Czech adolescents’ school climate perceptions have deteriorated over the past three decades, marked by rising demands and weakening support at school. These trends may contribute to reduced school engagement and heightened psychological distress, emphasizing the need for systemic interventions that ensure that high school expectations are coupled with relational and emotional support in schools.

Objectives: This study examined trends in sexual behaviour and the timing of sexual initiation among 15-year-old adolescents in Czechia between 2002 and 2022, with a focus on the age of sexual debut (…

Objectives: This study examined trends in sexual behaviour and the timing of sexual initiation among 15-year-old adolescents in Czechia between 2002 and 2022, with a focus on the age of sexual debut (i.e., 15 and older; early at 14; very early at 13 or younger). It also investigated trends in condom and hormonal contraceptive use at most recent intercourse. Methods: Data were drawn from six nationally representative waves of the Czech Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study, which was conducted between 2002 and 2022. Only 15-year-olds were included (N = 19,384). Descriptive trend analyses were conducted using survey weights, with subgroup comparisons by gender and age at sexual initiation. Results: The findings indicate a shift toward later sexual initiation, particularly among girls, with increasing proportions initiating at age 15 or older and declining initiation at age 14. A significant gender gap emerged in 2022, with fewer girls (13.9%) than boys (18.7%) reporting a sexual experience. The prevalence of very early initiation (age 13 or younger) remained stable over time, yet this group—especially boys—consistently accounted for a substantial minority of sexually active adolescents. Condom use declined from 81.2% to 69.9% across all initiation groups between 2014 and 2022, with the most persistent decline among very early initiators. Conclusions: The findings suggest a modest postponement of sexual debut among Czech adolescents and highlight a growing gender disparity in sexual activity by age 15. Persistent early initiation and declining condom use highlight the need for differentiated sexual health education strategies, particularly for younger initiators.

Objectives The present study aims to examining trends in adolescent alcohol use over the period from 2014 to 2022. Methods Data from the last three HBSC surveys conducted in 2014, 2018, and 2022 were …

Objectives The present study aims to examining trends in adolescent alcohol use over the period from 2014 to 2022. Methods Data from the last three HBSC surveys conducted in 2014, 2018, and 2022 were used for this study. Three measures of adolescent alcohol use have been chosen for analyses: lifetime alcohol use, last 30 days alcohol use, and repeated lifetime drunkenness. The analyses comprised calculation of period specific prevalence estimates and testing of the significance of between-period changes using survey-adjusted logistic regression models. Results Comparing prevalence rates between the periods, consistent decrease in adolescent alcohol use becomes apparent, particularly for drop of rates in 2018 compared to those in 2014. This is the case for lifetime alcohol use and repeated lifetime drunkenness, and is consistent across boys and girls, as well as the respective age groups. In survey waves 2018 and 2022, we do not see a statistically significant decline, but rather a stabilisation of assessed prevalence at a level from the previous wave of the study. Conclusions The decline in alcohol use among Czech adolescents is part of a global trend of reducing alcohol drinking among young people, on the background of social mechanisms including the change of cultural status of alcohol and changes in young people's leisure preferences.

Objectives: Sleep is vital for maintaining the health and wellbeing of people of all ages. However, for adolescents, sufficient sleep of adequate duration and quality is critical for profound mental, …

Objectives: Sleep is vital for maintaining the health and wellbeing of people of all ages. However, for adolescents, sufficient sleep of adequate duration and quality is critical for profound mental, physical, social, and emotional development. This study aimed to describe trends in sleep duration and late bedtime during school and non-school days in representative cohorts of 11-, 13-, and 15-year-old adolescents from Czechia from 2014 to 2022, and to examine the current associations between late bedtimes/social jet lag and wellbeing indicators among adolescents in 2022. Methods: The analysed sample of 42,101 adolescents aged 10.5-16.5 years was drawn from three nationally representative cohorts of Czech schoolchildren from the last three cycles of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study, conducted between 2014 and 2022. Results: Mean sleep duration (hours:minutes) on school and non-school days significantly (p < 0.05) decreased for both boys (schooldays: 8:192014→7:592022; non-school days: 9:362018→9:232022) and girls (schooldays: 8:202014→7:552022; non-school days: 9:582018→9:412022) between 2014/2018 and 2022, while the prevalence of insufficient sleep significantly (p < 0.001) increased over the same period (boys schooldays: 35.4%2014→49.2%2022, boys non-school days: 14.9%2018→18.0%2022; girls schooldays: 35.1%2014→51.7%2022, girls non-school days: 9.8%2018→13.3%2022). Adolescents with late bedtimes or social jet lag (> 2 hours) had significantly higher odds (p < 0.001) of skipping breakfast daily, drinking energy drinks daily, being drunk at least twice in their lifetime, experiencing reduced psychological wellbeing and low life satisfaction, reporting irritability, and problematic social media use and internet gaming than those with earlier bedtimes or without social jet lag. Conclusions: It is highly desirable that families, in close cooperation with schools and professional representatives, make efforts to ensure adherence to the recommended length and quality of sleep, as the trend results indicate worsening sleep patterns, deepening social jet lag, and a disturbing increase in adolescent risk behaviours and health complaints related to insufficient sleep.

Objectives: Planetary-health literacy (PHL), the knowledge, motivation and social support required to safeguard both human and environmental health, may help adolescents cope with climate-related dist…

Objectives: Planetary-health literacy (PHL), the knowledge, motivation and social support required to safeguard both human and environmental health, may help adolescents cope with climate-related distress and adopt sustainable behaviours. Evidence on the linkage between PHL and mental health from Central and Eastern Europe is lacking. The aim of the study was to describe PHL in Czech adolescents by sex, grade and family affluence, examine its association with mental-health indicators, and explore links with selected environment-relevant behaviours. Methods: Cross-sectional data were drawn from the nationally representative Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) 2022 survey (n = 4,195, 50.8% boys, ages 13 and 15 years). PHL was measured with an 11-item HBSC optional package yielding three sub-scales (knowledge, action, perceived pro-environmental social norms). Outcomes were wellbeing (WHO-5), life satisfaction (Cantril’s ladder), and psychological complaints (HBSC symptom checklist). Fruit and vegetable intake plus cigarette and e-cigarette use served as behavioural correlates. Results: Girls scored higher than boys on all PHL domains (Cohen d = 0.10–0.19). Thirteen-year-olds reported more action and stronger social norms than fifteen-year-olds (p < 0.001); socioeconomic gradients were small. In fully adjusted models, social norms were positively associated with wellbeing (β = 1.42, 95% CI: 1.12–1.72) and life satisfaction (β = 0.10, 0.08–0.13), and inversely with psychological complaints (β = −0.27, −0.33 to −0.21). Knowledge showed weak adverse relations with wellbeing and complaints, whereas action was associated with wellbeing only. Higher PHL related to daily fruit and vegetable consumption and inversely to intensive e-cigarette use; effect sizes were modest. Conclusions: Perceived pro-environmental social norms appear most tightly related to adolescent mental health, while overall PHL is slightly associated with sustainable dietary patterns and lower use of e-cigarettes. School curricula that combine climate education with collaborative, action-oriented projects may therefore deliver co-benefits for planetary and psychological health in Central and Eastern Europe.

Objectives: Previous studies have identified four distinct patterns of adolescent social media use (SMU): (1) Non-active users abstain from social media or engage in online interactions only once a we…

Objectives: Previous studies have identified four distinct patterns of adolescent social media use (SMU): (1) Non-active users abstain from social media or engage in online interactions only once a week or less; (2) Active users connect with others online daily without any functional impairments related to their SMU; (3) Intense users frequently engage with others online but do not meet criteria for problematic use; (4) Problematic users report six or more addiction-like symptoms. The following study aimed to assess the prevalence of these SMU patterns among Czech adolescents; examine changes between 2018 (pre-COVID-19) and 2022; and explore age and gender differences to identify at-risk subgroups. Methods: Data were drawn from the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study among 11-, 13-, and 15-year-olds. The study analysed Czech data from the 2017/18 and 2021/22 waves (n = 26,450). Results: Findings revealed marked changes in SMU patterns between 2018 and 2022 among Czech adolescents. Girls and older adolescents reported higher rates of problematic SMU, which increased steadily with age. The share of non-active users declined, most notably among 11-year-olds. Conclusions: The marked increase in both intense and problematic SMU among Czech adolescents highlights a growing public health concern. Given the established associations between problematic SMU and poorer mental health outcomes, these findings call for the integration of digital behaviour monitoring and education into school-based mental health and prevention programs. Particular attention should be given to early adolescence and to gender-specific vulnerabilities.