3014 – Are French Adolescents Different? A Comparative Study of Risky Life Styles and Depressive Psychopathology in An European Sample of 12 000 Adolescents

Abstract

Aims

“SEYLE” is a project, funded under the 7th European Framework Program, which is implemented in 11 European countries, with the coordination of Karolinska Institutet(Stockholm, Sweden). Its main objectives are: to encourage the adolescents to adopt healthier behaviours through reduction of “at-risk” behaviours and suicidal behaviours; to assess the benefits or prevention programs and recommend culturally adapted health promotion models for European students.

Methods

The whole Consortium gathered 12.395 students, aged 15-17 years, across the 11 participating countries. In France, 1007 students were recruited for the study, that took place in the Lorraine region. Each student had to fill a 127 questions self-report questionnaire at baseline and 3 and 12 months later. Data were collected, using questions from the Global School-Based Pupil Health Survey (GSHS) and European Values Study (EVS). Data were also obtained on different risk behaviors and on psychopathology, using questions issued from 13 scales, including, the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), the Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), the Paykel Suicide Scale (PSS).

Results

Preliminary results, from the baseline questionnaire show that, there are marked differentes between the various european countries. French students present high levels of depression, as measured by the BDI, high levels of suicidality, as mesured by the PSS and high levels of Non Suicidal Self Injuries (NSSI). They also sleep significantly less than students from other countries.

Conclusion

These different results will be presented and discussed.