Chara Tzavara

Dr. Chara Tzavara

Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Science and Education, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece
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Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

20Years (2007-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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10 July 2018 in BMC Public Health
Verified
Journal Article
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KAKalliope Athanasiou
Kalliope Athanasiou
EMEirini Melegkovits
Eirini Melegkovits
EAElisabeth Andrie
Elisabeth Andrie
CMCharalampos Magoulas
Charalampos Magoulas
CTChara Tzavara
Chara Tzavara
Artemis K. TsitsikaArtemis K. Tsitsika
Artemis K. Tsitsika
The increasing use of the Internet and social network sites (SNS) has created a new domain of socio-emotional development for adolescents. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to explore cybervictimization across seven European countries, in relation to socio-demographic, Internet use and psychosocial variables. A cross-sectional school-based study was conducted in the participating countries: Germany, Greece, Iceland the Netherlands, Poland, Romania and Spain. Anonymous self-completed questionnaires included sociodemographic data, internet usage characteristics, school achievement, parental control, the Internet Addiction Test and Achenbach’s Youth Self-Report. The highest rate of cyber victimization was found in Romania (37.3%) and the lowest in Spain (13.3%). Multiple logistic regression analyses gave differing results between countries. In Romania, Poland and Germany cyberbullying victimization was associated with SNS use, whereas Internet use was associated with increased odds of cybervictimization only in Romania. Cybervictimization was associated with greater internalizing behavior problems in all countries analysed, and with externalizing problems in all except Romania. Cyberbullying victimization is an on-going problem, which is subject to country-specific socio-demographic factors and diverse patterns of current Internet use and its development. Preventive measures should emphasize the integration of Internet communication technology education in educational contexts, and focus on the consistent association between cybervictimization and internalizing and externalizing difficulties.

26 August 2009 in Annals of General Psychiatry
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Georgios GiannakopoulosGeorgios Giannakopoulos
Georgios Giannakopoulos
CTChara Tzavara
Chara Tzavara
CDChristine Dimitrakaki
Christine Dimitrakaki
GKGerasimos A. Kolaitis
Gerasimos A. Kolaitis
VRVasiliki Rotsika
Vasiliki Rotsika
YTYannis Tountas
Yannis Tountas
Background: The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) is a practical, economic and user-friendly screening instrument of emotional and behavioural problems in children and adolescents. This study was aimed primarily at evaluating the factor structure of the Greek version of the SDQ.Methods: A representative nationwide sample of 1,194 adolescents (11 to 17 years old) completed the questionnaire. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted to assess the factor structure of the SDQ.Results: CFA supported the original five-factor structure. The modification of the model provided some improvements. Internal consistency was acceptable for total difficulties, emotional symptoms and prosocial behaviour scale, moderate for hyperactivity/inattention scale and inadequate for peer and conduct problems scale. Older adolescents (aged 15 to 17 years) reported more hyperactivity/inattention and conduct problems than younger ones (aged 11 to 14 years) and girls reported more emotional symptoms and less prosocial behaviour problems than boys. Adolescents of low socioeconomic status (SES) reported more difficulties than those of medium and high SES.Conclusion: The Greek SDQ could be potentially considered as a community-wide screening instrument for adolescents' emotional and behavioural problems.

3 September 2010 in BMC Public Health
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Journal Article
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TPThomas Paparrigopoulos
Thomas Paparrigopoulos
CTChara Tzavara
Chara Tzavara
CTChristos Theleritis
Christos Theleritis
CPConstantin Psarros
Constantin Psarros
CSConstantin Soldatos
Constantin Soldatos
YTYiannis Tountas
Yiannis Tountas
Insomnia is a major public health concern affecting about 10% of the general population in its chronic form. Furthermore, epidemiological surveys demonstrate that poor sleep and sleep dissatisfaction are even more frequent problems (10-48%) in the community. This is the first report on the prevalence of insomnia in Greece, a southeastern European country which differs in several socio-cultural and climatic aspects from the rest of European Community members. Data obtained from a national household survey (n = 1005) were used to assess the relationship between insomnia symptoms and a variety of sociodemographic variables, life habits, and health-related factors.

29 October 2015 in Annals of General Psychiatry
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IMIraklis Mourikis
Iraklis Mourikis
MAMarianthi Antoniou
Marianthi Antoniou
EMEfi Matsouka
Efi Matsouka
EVEleni Vousoura
Eleni Vousoura
CTChara Tzavara
Chara Tzavara
IZIannis M. Zervas
Iannis M. Zervas
Erectile dysfunction (ED) and premature ejaculation (PE) are the two most prevalent sexual disorders among males associated with significant distress and impairment in quality of life. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms among patients with primary ED and PE. A sample of 57 men (ED = 31; PE = 26) were compared to 25 male outpatients with anxiety disorder (AD) and 25 healthy controls. Principal assessment measures included the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Greater levels of STAI state anxiety were reported among the ED, PE, and AD groups as compared to healthy controls. In contrast ED and AD groups scored higher than controls on the STAI trait anxiety and BDI, but PE scores were not different from healthy controls in both measures. The study findings suggest that both primary ED and PE are conditions associated with significant state anxiety; however, PE appears to be less associated with trait anxiety and depression compared to ED, a finding that corroborates the recent acknowledgement of PE as a more biologically based condition. Limitations and potential clinical implications are also discussed.

Eirini OrovouEirini Orovou
Eirini Orovou
Maria DaglaMaria Dagla
Maria Dagla
Georgios IatrakisGeorgios Iatrakis
Georgios Iatrakis
KLKaterina Lykeridou
Katerina Lykeridou
CTChara Tzavara
Chara Tzavara
Evangelia AntoniouEvangelia Antoniou
Evangelia Antoniou
A birth experience with cesarean section (CS) can be a cause of the development of post-traumatic stress disorder after a cesarean (PTSD-AC) or profile PTSD, for a percentage of women. So far, there is no data on the frequency of PTSD-AC in Greece and this syndrome is often associated with other mental disorders of the postpartum period. The purpose of this research is to associate the kind of CS with PTSD-AC for Greek mothers and the combination of factors that make them less resistant to trauma. A sample of ahundred and sixty-six mothers who gave birth with emergency cesarean section (EMCS) and elective cesarean section (ELCS) at a Greek University hospital have consented to participate in the two phases of the survey, in the 2nd day postpartum and a follow-up in the 6th week postpartum. Medical/demographic data and a life events checklist (LEC-5) with Criterion A and post-traumatic stress checklist (PCL-5) were used to diagnose PTSD and PTSD Profile. Out of166 mothers enrolled, 160 replied to the follow-up (96.4%), ELCS 97 (97%) and EMCS 63 (95%). Twenty (31.7%) EMCS had PTSD and nine (14.3%) had Profile. One (1%) ELCS had PTSD and 4 (4.1%) had Profile. This survey shows a high prevalence rate of PTSD after EMCS with additional risk factors of preterm labor, inclusion in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), a lack of breastfeeding, and a lack of support from the partner.

21 December 2019 in BMC Psychology
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Journal Article
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EREkaterini Rapti
Ekaterini Rapti
DDDimitrios Damigos
Dimitrios Damigos
PAParaskevi Apostolara
Paraskevi Apostolara
VRVasiliki Roka
Vasiliki Roka
CTChara Tzavara
Chara Tzavara
Christos LionisChristos Lionis
Christos Lionis
Background: Chronic pain constitutes one of the most common reasons for seeking health care services and may even lead to disability. Chronic pain has been associated with depression and deterioration of the quality of life. The aim of our study is to outline the burden of chronic pain in the context of a primary health care (PHC) setting in Greece and to investigate its association with depression and quality of life. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2016 to November 2016. The subjects of the study comprised 200 individuals who visited the regional medical center of Ag. Theodoroi, Greece. The collected data were from a representative sample of 200 adults and included demographic data, social and medical history, presence and characteristics of chronic pain and questions from three questionnaires for the assessment of pain (BPI- short form), the investigation of depression (PHQ-9) and the evaluation of the quality of life (EuroQ-5D) validated in Greek language. Multiple regression analysis was used in order to find associated factors with quality of life, depression and chronic pain. Results: A percentage of 56.8% of the participants, the majority of whom (62%) were women, reported chronic pain. Among individuals with pain, lower back area was the most common location. Based on the given questionnaire, depression was detected in 22. 5% of the participants who claimed chronic pain. Regression analyses revealed that women and respondents with chronic mental disorders like depression and anxiety had significantly higher scores on the pain scale and suffered pain which had a greater impact on their daily activities. According to regression analysis decreased quality of life was expressed by women, as well as participants with a chronic mental disorder. A significant reverse correlation emerged between the quality of life, depression and pain scales. Conclusion: Chronic pain, as it has been studied within this PHC setting, is a common health care problem. Individuals who had experienced chronic pain and depression had a lower health-related quality of life.