The use of psychoactive substances and adolescents’ school performance

Pestana, Leonor; Duarte, Joao; Coutinho, Emilia; Chaves, Claudia; Amaral, Odete; Nelas, Paula

Publication

The use of psychoactive substances and adolescents’ school performance

2016Journal article

dc.contributor.author	Pestana, Leonor
dc.contributor.author	Duarte, Joao
dc.contributor.author	Coutinho, Emilia
dc.contributor.author	Chaves, Claudia
dc.contributor.author	Amaral, Odete
dc.contributor.author	Nelas, Paula
dc.date.accessioned	2017-01-30T17:19:24Z
dc.date.available	2017-01-30T17:19:24Z
dc.date.issued	2016
dc.description.abstract	The use of psychoactive substances is a public health problem. The use of these substances usually starts during adolescence and is associated with school problems, namely poor school performance. Research Questions included which psychoactive substances interfere with school performance (learning environment, planning of studies, methods of studying, reading skills, study motivation, overall school performance) in adolescents. The purpose of the study was to analyse the relationship between the use of psychoactive substances and adolescents’ school performance. The Research Methods included a cross-sectional study. Data were collected through a questionnaire which included socio-demographic information, psychoactive substances and a school performance scale (adapted from Fermin, 2005). Non-probability sampling for convenience, with 380 students from 7th, 8th and 9th grade. Data were collected in 2011/2012 among students from a Basic School in the Portuguese Municipality of Viseu. Results: There was a 4.2% of prevalence of drug use: 4,3% in boys and 4.1% in girls. For both genders, the most commonly used drugs were hashish and marijuana (43.8%). Girls (p<0.001), younger students (p<0.001), those whose parents graduated from high-school or who have a higher education (p=0.019) and students who do not use drugs (p=0.000) do better in school. We concluded that drug abuse is associated with adolescents’ poorer school performance. It is therefore important to identify risk groups and develop policies to prevent youngsters from using psychoactive substances because of the major impact they have on individual, family and social levels.	pt_PT
dc.description.sponsorship	The Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), and the Centre for Studies in Education, Technologies and Health (CI&DETS).	pt_PT
dc.description.version	info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion	pt_PT
dc.identifier.citation	Pestana L, Duarte J, Coutinho E, Chaves C, Amaral O, Nelas P. The use of psychoactive substances and adolescents’ school performance. The European Proceedings of Social & Behavioural Sciences EpSBS. 2016: 543-551. http://dx.doi.org/10.15405/epsbs.2016.11.55.	pt_PT
dc.identifier.doi	10.15405/epsbs.2016.11.55	pt_PT
dc.identifier.issn	eISSN 2357-1330
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10400.19/4199
dc.language.iso	eng	pt_PT
dc.peerreviewed	yes	pt_PT
dc.publisher	Future Academy	pt_PT
dc.relation.publisherversion	http://www.futureacademy.org.uk/files/images/upload/55_4458_fulltext.pdf	pt_PT
dc.rights.uri	http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/	pt_PT
dc.subject	School performance	pt_PT
dc.subject	Adolescence	pt_PT
dc.subject	Psychoactive substances	pt_PT
dc.subject	Drugs	pt_PT
dc.title	The use of psychoactive substances and adolescents’ school performance	pt_PT
dc.type	journal article
dspace.entity.type	Publication
oaire.citation.endPage	551	pt_PT
oaire.citation.startPage	543	pt_PT
oaire.citation.title	European Proceedings of Social & Behavioural Sciences EpSBS	pt_PT
rcaap.rights	openAccess	pt_PT
rcaap.type	article	pt_PT