Extreme deprivation (Roma living in settlements vs. non-Roma adolescents) as a factor of adolescents health and health-endagering behaviour

Summary:

Roma are one of the largest ethnic groups in Europe. The few studies that are available, report health among the Roma as considerably worse than that of the majority population, and virtually nothing is known about the health status and health-endangering behaviour of Roma adolescents. Roma are well known for their low educational status, high unemployment and poverty and for living in very poor conditions, especially those Roma living in settlements. All of these factors result in very low socioeconomic status (SES) and may contribute to worse health among Roma.

The study is focused on various perceived health outcomes and health-endangering behaviours among Slovak Roma adolescents (from segregated and separated Roma settlements) compared to non-Roma adolescents, from the majority population. Effects of ethnicity, SES of parents and gender are controlled for.

Initial findings indicate worse perceived health outcomes, less substance use among Roma girls, better perceived social support from parents, higher life satisfaction and higher hopelessness among Roma adolescents comparing to non-Roma adolescents. Parents' SES proved to partially affect health status.