Determination of Risky Health Behaviors of Immigrant and Nonimmigrant Adolescents

Abstract

AIM: This study was planned as a descriptive study in order to investigate risky health behaviors of immigrant and non immigrant adolescents. METHODS: The study was performed in a high school situated Izmir between the dates of October and November 2008. Sample group of this research was included 293 immigrant and 813 non immigrant adolescents. Data were collected by using Socio-demographic question form and and Health Risk Behaviors Scale. Data were collected from students with a technical pencil-paper by researcher in classroom. Frequencies, one way anova (post-hoc bonferroni) and independent t test were used with Stastical Package for Social Science 13.0 program for statistical analysis of data. Written consent was taken from Izmir Directorate of Education to carry out the study. Oral consent was taken from the school manager and the students. RESULTS: Mean age of adolescents was 15.42±0.03. It was determined that risky health behaviors mean score (t: 2.161, p: 0.031) and physical activity (t: 2.132, p: 0.033), nutrition (t:3.030, p: 0.003), hygiene (t: 3.850, p: 0.000) sub-scales mean scores of immigrant adolescent were statistically higher than non immigrant adolescents (p