Intergenerational and gender differences in sexual life and addictive substance use

Abstract

Aim: Explore the habits of sexual life, knowledge, history and addictive substances use, analyze differences and similarities according to sex, age, religion, place of residence, parental education and genera-tion. Methods: 364 random participants (17-56 years), visiting the outpatient department of the General hospital Bjelovar from 1st of January to 1st of June 2017. We used two criteria to include a person in the study-non health education occupation and finished high school diploma degree minimum. All subjects gave informed consent. The self-designed anonymous questionnaire contained general socio-demographic questions and those related to sexual behavior and addictive substances use. Results: Significantly more men than women use addictive substances, addictive substances are more often used in urban areas, men are less knowledgeable about sexually transmitted diseases, women have older partners, men have partners of the same age or younger, the age of first sexual intercourse as well as the number of sexual partners and the consumption of addictive substances shifts to through generations to a lower age limit, level of parental education has no protective effect on the risky behavior of participans. Life in rural areas and religious practice can be indicated as a protective factor for risky behavior. Conclusion: The results put new challenges in front of the experts in the humanities and public health areas as they provide insight into the changing sociologi-cal phenomena through decades and describe the Croatian society between the phenomena of globalization and retradionalisation.This and similar research may encourage relevant measures of prevention of these trends.