Wsparcie społeczne, zdrowie i zachowania zdrowotne nastoletnich dzieci rodziców pracujących za granicą
Social support, health and health behaviours of teenage children of parents working abroad

Summary/Abstract: The migration of Poles for economic reasons is a significant social problem in the twenty-first century. In discussions on the consequences of parental migration we can identify two dominant trends: the first treats this situation as close or equal to being pathological due to the risk of family breakdown, attachment disorders and of psychological and pedagogical problems in children; in the second, it is assumed that the effectsof migration depend on a combination of risk factors and environmental resources.The aim of this study was to analyse both indicators of social support (from family and school), as well as health, life satisfaction and the health and risky behaviours of teenage children of parents working abroad. Surveys carried out in the school year 2013/2014 were a part of the international study HBSC (Health Behaviour in School-aged Children). Data on parental emigration was obtained from 1.515 pupils of lower and upper secondary schools. It was shown that 18.1% of the young people have experienced their parents migration during the two years preceding the survey. Adolescents from these families perceived less family support,but the quality of communication in the family didn’t differ from other teenagers. In families using programs like SKYPE a lower level of family support wasn’t observed.It has been shown that the perceived level of support from teachers was lower in the group of teenagers from migrant families, but the level of support from classmates didn’t differ. Adolescents from migrant families were more physically active than their peers, but less often ate breakfast. Lower secondary school students from migrant families smoked cigarettes and marijuana, got drunk and were sexual active more often than their peers. There were no differences between the analysed groups in terms of health and life satisfaction.The survey indicated the family as a key source of support for youth and confirmed the positive role of modern electronic media. Conducting systematic research and implementation of health promotion programs for children and adolescents from migrant families should be a permanent feature in contemporary health policy.

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