[Psychosocial determinants and anxiolytic, hypnotic and sedative use among adolescents in the Basque Autonomous...

To analyze the association of psycho-emotional and social determinants such as psychosocial well-being (according to Diener's Flourishing Scale), academic performance, friendship relationships, and, in the case of girls, partner violence with gender inequalities in anxiolytic, hypnotic, and sedative use among adolescents aged 12 to 18 in the Basque Country.

A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted based on data from the X Drogas y Escuela Survey. Consumption prevalences were calculated and prevalence ratios (PR) of AHS drug consumption were estimated through Poisson regressions with robust variance, based on age, level of flourishing, self-perception of friendships, academic performance, and frequency of experiencing low-level partner violence.

AHS consumption was higher in girls across all psychosocial variables studied. Age (PR=1.20; 95% CI: 1.14-1.25), low flourishing (PR=1.68; 95% CI: 1.23-2.31), low academic performance (PR=1.26; 95% CI: 1.06-1.50) and negative perception of friendships (PR=1. 28; 95% CI: 1.04-1.57) were associated with higher consumption among girls, while boys were more likely to consume with age (PR=1.17; 95% CI: 1.10-1.25) and poorer academic performance (PR=1.34; 95% CI: 1.08-1.65).

Psychosocial determinants such as subjective well-being, perception of relationships, and academic performance were differentially associated with AHS use in boys and girls. It is important to consider these determinants when designing public policies aimed at reducing psychotropics consumption.