Adolescent Health Risk Behaviors Research Articles

Health Promotion and Risk Behaviors Among Adolescents in Turkey

Adolescents experience the onset and development of several health-related behaviors. The purpose of this study is to determine health risk and promotion behaviors of adolescents between the ages of 11 and 19 who were attending and to test the reliability and validity analysis of the Turkish version of Adolescent Health Promotion Scale (AHPS). The study was a cross-sectional survey and the sample consisted of 1,351 participants. A questionnaire that included demographic information, health risk behaviors, and AHPS was used to collect data. In the current study, the Cronbach's α coefficient for the AHPS was calculated as .92. Female students had significantly higher mean total scale scores than males (p < .05). The 11-14 age group had a statistically significant higher scale total mean score than the 15-19 age group (p = .001). International directives highlight the important function nurses fulfill in health promotion. Nurses may play a key role in school health services.

Predictors of Adolescent Male Body Image Dissatisfaction: Implications for Negative Health Practices and Consequences for School Health From a Regionally Representative Sample

Adolescent males are more likely to sustain intentional and unintentional injuries, be involved in a physical confrontation, and be successful in suicide attempts. Body image dissatisfaction (BID) has been linked as a possible contributing factor to these negative health behaviors and risks; however, research is limited with males. The interaction of intrapersonal, interpersonal, and social variables in a holistic model has yet to be explored for males. Variables precipitating adolescent males to develop an unhealthy body image and act on negative health behaviors, such as body image drug use, were the impetus for this study. A randomized cross-sectional sample of 330 adolescent males answered questions concerning body image using the Adolescent Body Image Satisfaction Scale (ABISS). Pearson product moment correlations and stepwise regression analyses identified the strongest predictive variables of BID. The strongest contributing variables accounting for 56.7% of model variance were desire for the body of another person (r = .571, p < .001), teasing (r = .490, p < .001), satisfaction with their body when they were younger (r = .450, p < .001), and difficulty coping with criticism (r = .443, p < .001). No statistically significant differences were found for racial/ethnic background (p < .822, n.s.). Educators and school districts should consider the confluence of psychosocial variables affecting body image and adolescent male health risk behaviors based on a statistically sound predictive model as provided by the ABISS. Targeted programming to enhance body image and address teasing/bullying behaviors is strongly recommended.

Turkish Adolescent Health Risk Behaviors and Self-Esteem

We examined health risk behaviors and self-esteem of 1,361 adolescents in Adiyaman, Turkey. The data were obtained using the Health Risk Behaviors Scale (HRBS; Çimen &amp; Savaşer, 2003) and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (SES; Rosenberg, 1965). The most frequent predictor of risky behavior in adolescents was physical activity. Nutrition, psychosocial, hygiene, and substance abuse issues were also significant predictors of risky behavior. The results indicated that age, year at school (grade), gender, self-esteem, and school performance all had a strong impact on health risk behaviors. Adolescents must be made aware of health risk issues associated with physical activity, nutrition, hygiene, and substance abuse.

Integrative Literature Review of Adolescent Risk and Health Compromising Behaviors Guided by the Problem Behavior Theory

Twenty percent of the world’s population is adolescents. Although generally healthy, risky behaviors result in premature death from injury and establish lifestyle choices which may give rise to poor health and disability during adult life. This integrative review presents the state of the literature related to adolescent health risk behaviors as framed by the problem behavior theory. The key word search using the databases of ERIC, CINAHL Plus with full text, PsycARTICLES, and PsycINFO yielded an internationally representative group of articles consistent with the guiding framework. Fifteen articles related to risk factors, protective factors, risk behaviors, and health-compromising behaviors of adolescents were retained from the past five years. Although the literature is replete with research involving adolescents, gaps are identified, and recommendations for future research are considered.

Concurrent multiple health risk behaviors among adolescents in Luangnamtha province, Lao PDR

BackgroundMultiple health risk behaviors (HRBs) among adolescents pose a threat to their health, including HIV/AIDS. Health risk behaviors such as alcohol use, smoking, substance use, and sexual risk behaviors among youth have been shown to co-occur with each others. The objectives of this study was to estimate the prevalence of single and concurrent health risk behaviors and to explore how health risk behavior is associated with socio-demographic factors and peers' behaviors.MethodsA cross sectional design was used to examine health risk behaviors of adolescents between the age 14 and 19 years living in the Luangnamtha province, Lao PDR. The study was conducted between June and August, 2008. An ordinal logistic regression model that simultaneously explored demographic factors and the influence of the behavior of peers on three categories of multiple HRBs (no risk, one risk, and two or more health risk behaviors) was performed.ResultsA total of 1360 respondents, 669 (49.1%) boys with mean age 16.7 ± 1.6 and 699 (50.9%) girls aged 16.1 ± 1.5 were recruited into the study. The majority reported two or fewer risk behaviors. However, multiple risk behaviors increased with age for both sexes. About 46.8% (n = 637) reported no risk, 39.3 percent (n = 535) reported one risk, 8.1 percent (n = 110) reported two risks, and 5.8 percent reported more than two health risk behaviors.The protective factors among boys were school attendance (OR = .53, CI = .33-.86), being Hmong and Yao ethnicity (OR = .48, CI-.26-.90), while being above the age of 15 (OR = 2.20, 95% CI = 1.33-3.60), Akha ethnicity (OR = 2.20, 95% CI = 1.04-4.61), peer's smoking (OR = 3.11, 95% CI = 2.1-4.6), and peer's drinking alcohol (OR = 1.88, 95% CI = 1.1-3.21) were significantly associated with the presence of multiple risk behaviors among boys.Having some education (OR = 0.17, 95% CI = 0.06-0.45), and being of Hmong and Yao ethnicity (OR = 0.38, 95% CI = 0.18-0.80) were factors that protected girls from multiple risk behaviors; while peer's drinking alcohol (OR = 2.55, 95% CI = 1.59-4.09) and peer's being sexually active (OR = 2.82, 95% CI = 1.65-4.8) were significantly associated with the presence of multiple risk behaviors among girls.ConclusionThere are sex, age and ethnic differences in the concurrent health risk behaviors. The influencing factors are adolescent's education and peer influence. Interventions should focus to encourage adolescents to complete the compulsory primary education as well as help them to establish friendships and follow peers with good behavior. Risk reduction messages need to take account of diverse multiple HRBs within the specific socio-cultural and gender specific context and target vulnerable adolescents such as ethnic minorities and less educated adolescents.

High Peer Popularity Longitudinally Predicts Adolescent Health Risk Behavior, or Does It?: An Examination of Linear and Quadratic Associations

High Peer Popularity Longitudinally Predicts Adolescent Health Risk Behavior, or Does It?: An Examination of Linear and Quadratic Associations

Morbidity and mortality risk among the “forgotten few”: Why are girls in the justice system in such poor health?

The present study assessed the physical health of a population of girls sentenced to custody in a large US State via medical examinations and clinical assessments in adolescence and young adulthood. Findings indicated that injuries, obesity, and sexually transmitted diseases were the norm, with over 50% of the population meeting criteria for each of these health problems. A dose-response relationship was documented between childhood victimization and injuries and injury risk in adolescence and self-harm, HIV risk, physical health symptoms, and hospitalizations in young adulthood. The relationship between childhood victimization and poor adult physical health was fully mediated by health-risk behaviors in adolescence. Clinical and policy implications of the high mortality and morbidity risk among female juvenile offenders are discussed.

The significance of existential/spiritual attitudes in adolescent health preventive and risk behaviors

A személyiség egzisztenciális/spirituális tartományának szerepe a serdülőkori egészségmagatartásban az egészségpszichológia szempontjából kevéssé vizsgált terület. Jelen tanulmányunk erdélyi serdülők (N = 406; 15–18 évesek, átlagéletkor = 16,5 év; 42,1% fiú, 57,9% lány) körében végzett vizsgálat eredményein alapul, amelynek fókuszában az élet értelmessége és az egészség-, valamint rizikómagatartások összefüggésének vizsgálata áll. Esélyhányadosok segítségével elemzésünk rávilágított az értelemkeresés és a reményvesztettség ellentétes irányú összefüggésére (például az értelem keresése és a rizikómagatartás összefüggésére az esélyhányados: OR = 0,798, 95% CI = 0,674–0,946, p &lt; 0,01; a reményvesztettség esetében ugyanakkor OR =1,149, 95% CI = 1,032–1,279, p &lt; 0,05). Adataink kiemelik, hogy az élet értelmességére irányuló keresés nem negatív hiányállapot, hanem ellenkezőleg, a jelentésteremtéssel összefüggő aktív, kognitív-motivációs struktúra. Az eredmények ugyanakkor rámutatnak, hogy serdülőkorban az egészség- és rizikómagatartások viszonylatában az értelemkeresés befolyása az élet értelmességénél meghatározóbb.

Subsidized Housing, Public Housing, and Adolescent Violence and Substance Use

This study examines the separate relationships of public housing residence and subsidized housing residence to adolescent health risk behavior. Data include 2,530 adolescents aged 14 to 19 who were children of the National the Longitudinal Study of Youth. The author use stratified propensity methods to compare the behaviors of each group—subsidized housing residents and public housing residents—to a matched control group of teens receiving no housing assistance. The results reveal no significant relationship between public housing residence and violence, heavy alcohol/marijuana use, or other drug use. However, subsidized housing residents have significantly lower rates of violence and hard drug use, and marginally lower rates of heavy marijuana/alcohol use. The results indicate that the consistent, positive effect of vouchers in the current literature is not due to a lower standard among the typical comparison group: public housing. Future studies should focus on conceptualizing and analyzing the protective effect of vouchers beyond comparisons to public housing environments.

Erratum: Clustering of Oral and General Health Risk Behaviors in Korean Adolescents: A National Representative Sample

Erratum: Clustering of Oral and General Health Risk Behaviors in Korean Adolescents: A National Representative Sample

Association of Adolescent Choking Game Activity With Selected Risk Behaviors

Objective Previous research has recommended education for parents, teachers, and anticipatory guidance by pediatricians regarding participation in the so-called choking game, a potentially fatal behavior. The purpose of this study was to examine possible associations between selected demographic variables and risk behaviors with youth engagement in the choking game on the basis of secondary data analysis from a general adolescent health risk behavior survey. Methods Self-administered survey data from an adolescent needs assessment was used to assess choking game behavior between fall 2008 and fall 2009. The sample included 192 classrooms across 88 schools in a Midwestern state. Results Of the 3598 questionnaires distributed to middle and high school students, 3408 (95%) were returned completed. Participation rate in the choking game was 9%, with male participation (11%) greater than female participation (7%), and high school students (11%) more likely than middle school students (5%) to participate. Adjusted odds ratios found that the likelihood of middle school students engaging in the choking game were higher for older students, substance users, and those having lower grades. For high school students, adjusted odds ratios found that being older, substance use, and selected mental health issues (forced sex and attempted suicide) were most associated with choking activities. Conclusions Engaging in the choking game was highly associated with abuse of substances, suggesting that youth engage in the choking game for the thrill-seeking experience of brief euphoria, a drug-related feeling. To reduce the potentially fatal consequences associated with this behavior, pediatricians should screen youths and provide anticipatory guidance for higher-risk youths and their parents.

Influencing antecedents of adolescent risk-taking behaviour in elementary school: results of a 4-year quasi-experimental controlled trial

Effects of the life skills programme 'Eigenständig werden' (Becoming independent) on life skills and on identified antecedents of adolescent health risk behaviour, childhood internalizing and externalizing behaviour were tested in an elementary school setting. A quasi-experimental controlled trial with five repeated measures was conducted. Participants were 919 students from 50 elementary schools in Saxony, Germany. Outcomes were assessed by teachers' ratings. Growth-curve models revealed that the rate of decline in internalizing and externalizing behaviour was significantly higher in the intervention group-especially for students with high baseline levels of externalizing behaviour (P < 0.01). No general programme effects on the development of skills could be found (P = 0.22). The current study provides evidence that life skills programmes in elementary school may be an effective strategy in reducing antecedents of adolescent risk-taking behaviour.

Risk Factors for Work-related Fatigue in Students With School-Year Employment

To explore potential risk factors for acute and chronic work-related fatigue in students working at a paid job while pursuing school studies. Although work-related fatigue was identified as a potential hazard for youth health, academic achievement, and occupational safety, very few studies have specifically addressed its correlates and possible predictors. Cross-sectional data from an ongoing prospective cohort study of health risk behaviors in adolescents was used to identify factors associated with increased levels of acute and chronic fatigue in 209 students aged 17-18 years working during the school year. Multiple stepwise regression analyses were performed with acute and chronic fatigue levels as dependent variables, and demographic, work, and health factors as potential explanatory variables. Average hours worked per week by students was 14.7 hours. It was observed that higher psychological distress, poorer health perception, greater sleep debt, and higher exposure to physical work factors were associated with higher levels of acute fatigue. Also, it was observed that higher psychological distress, poorer health perception, higher exposure to physical work factors, and holding multiple jobs were associated with higher levels of chronic fatigue. The number of hours worked weekly was associated with neither acute nor chronic work-related fatigue. Findings suggest that prevention strategies devised to minimize work-related fatigue in students should consider exposure to physical work factors. Results also re-emphasize the importance of obtaining sufficient sleep so as to prevent high levels of acute work-related fatigue.

Associations Between Multiple Pregnancies and Health Risk Behaviors Among U.S. Adolescents

This study examined the associations between health risk behaviors (i.e., substance use behaviors, physical violence, or carried a weapon) and multiple adolescent pregnancies (i.e., experiencing or causing more than one pregnancy). We analyzed 1999-2003 data (3 years: 1999, 2001, and 2003) from the National Youth Risk Behavior Survey, a nationally representative survey of high school students (N = 14,211 participants). Multinomial logistic regression was used to compare one and multiple pregnancies versus no pregnancies. Logistic regression was used to compare multiple pregnancies versus one pregnancy. A dose-response relationship was observed between multiple adolescent pregnancies and health risk behaviors; the more risk behaviors endorsed, the greater likelihood of experiencing or causing multiple adolescent pregnancies. Participants who engaged in a "high" degree of risk behaviors were significantly more likely to have experienced or caused multiple adolescent pregnancies than no pregnancies (or only one pregnancy) versus youth who endorsed no risk behaviors. Earlier sexual debut and more lifetime sexual partners were also associated with increased risk of endorsing multiple adolescent pregnancies. The health risk behaviors examined in our study can provide warning signs to influential persons who can potentially deliver important prevention messages to at-risk adolescents.

Factor Structure and Psychometrics of the Adolescent Health Risk Behavior Survey Instrument

To explore the factor structure and psychometric properties of data collected with the Adolescent Health Risk Behavior Survey (AHRBS) instrument. Measures of the AHRBS instrument were tested using statistical analyses to assess validity and reliability of data collected from a sample of 1992 Indiana adolescents. Factor analyses yielded a 13-factor solution with acceptable model fit statistics. Tests of internal consistency reliability for data in instrument scales ranged from 0.455 to 0.916. Measures were consistent across adolescent subdemographic categories. The AHRBS instrument is a valuable tool for investigating adolescent drug use.

Adolescent Suicide and Health Risk Behaviors: Rhode Island's 2007 Youth Risk Behavior Survey

Suicide is the third-leading cause of death among high school students in the U.S. This study examined the relationships among indicators of depressed mood, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts, and demographics and risk behaviors in Rhode Island high school students. Data from Rhode Island's 2007 Youth Risk Behavior Survey were utilized for this study. The statewide sample contained 2210 randomly selected public high school students. Data were analyzed in 2008 to model for each of five depressed mood/suicide indicators using multivariable logistic regression. By examining depressed mood and suicide indicators through a multivariable approach, the strongest predictors were identified, for multiple as well as specific suicide indicators. These predictors included being female, having low grades, speaking a language other than English at home, being lesbian/gay/bisexual/unsure of sexual orientation, not going to school as a result of feeling unsafe, having been a victim of forced sexual intercourse, being a current cigarette smoker, and having a self-perception of being overweight. The strength of associations between three factors (immigrant status, feeling unsafe, and having forced sex) and suicide indicators adds new information about potential predictors of suicidal behavior in adolescents.

Consumo de álcool entre estudantes de escolas públicas da Região Metropolitana do Recife, Pernambuco, Brasil

This study analyzes alcohol consumption and health risk behaviors in adolescents, using a cross-sectional, population-based, epidemiological design from April to September 2006, within a sample stratified according to school size and shift. Using the Portuguese version of the Global School-Based Student Health Survey questionnaire, 1,878 students from 29 public schools in Greater Metropolitan Recife, Pernambuco State, Brazil, were analyzed by age, gender, alcohol consumption, lifetime history of intoxication, and negative consequences. Alcohol consumption in the previous 30 days was 29.8%. Adolescents reported easy acquisition of alcoholic beverages from commercial establishments and in social settings. Lifetime history of intoxication was reported by 30.5% of the students. Negative consequences were reported by 14.5%. Knowledge of risk behaviors for alcohol consumption by adolescents can provide backing for appropriate public policies in health education.

Youth health-risk behavior assessment in Fiji: the reliability of Global School-based Student Health Survey content adapted for ethnic Fijian girls

Objective. The Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS) is an assessment for adolescent health-risk behaviors and exposures, supported by the World Health Organization. Although already widely implemented – and intended for youth assessment across diverse ethnic and national contexts – no reliability data have yet been reported for GSHS-based assessment in any ethnicity or country-specific population. This study reports test-retest reliability for GSHS content adapted for a female adolescent ethnic Fijian study sample in Fiji. Design. We adapted and translated GSHS content to assess health-risk behaviors as part of a larger study investigating the impact of social transition on ethnic Fijian secondary schoolgirls in Fiji. In order to evaluate the performance of this measure for our ethnic Fijian study sample (n=523), we examined its test-retest reliability with kappa coefficients, % agreement, and prevalence estimates in a sub-sample (n=81). Reliability among strata defined by topic, age, and language was also examined. Results. Average agreement between test and retest was 77%, and average Cohen's kappa was 0.47. Mean kappas for questions from core modules about alcohol use, tobacco use, and sexual behavior were substantial, and higher than those for modules relating to other risk behaviors. Conclusions. Although test-retest reliability of responses within this country-specific version of GSHS content was substantial in several topical domains for this ethnic Fijian sample, only fair reliability for the module assessing dietary behaviors and other individual items suggests that population-specific psychometric evaluation is essential to interpreting language and country-specific GSHS data.

Test-Retest Reliability of a Questionnaire for the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-Based Survey

A web-based survey has been administered annually since 2005 throughout Korea to assess the prevalence of adolescent health risk behaviors among middle and high school students. The aim of this study was to evaluate the test-retest reliability of the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey (KYRBWS) questionnaire. A convenience sample of 2298 middle and high school students participated in self-administered questionnaire surveys twice, approximately two weeks apart, in 2008. The percent agreement, kappa statistics, and prevalence rates at the first and second surveys were computed for the core subset of 39 self-reported health risk behavior indices of the KYRBWS. Among 39 indices, seven indices had kappas ≥ 0.81 and all of the indices had kappas ≥ 0.41. Based on non-overlapping 95% confidence intervals, three indices had significantly different prevalence rates between the first and second surveys. In the subgroup analyses by school grade and gender, two indices had significantly different reliability estimates between middle and high school students. There were no significantly different reliability estimates between male and female students, except for one index. This study demonstrated that the reliability estimates for the KYRBWS questionnaire are varied, but generally reliable over time. The indices with low reliability estimates need to be evaluated further in order to determine whether the indices should be modified or deleted from future versions of the KYRBWS.

Health-risk behaviors in adolescents as indicators of unconventional lifestyles

This study analyses the dimensions of health-risk behaviors in adolescence. Based on the Theory of Problem Behavior, the study hypothesises that the structure of relations between risk behaviors may be explained in terms of their level of social transgression or unconventionality. With a sample of 771 adolescents, this study explores the association between the behaviors which, according to the WHO, have a greater impact on morbidity and mortality. The results of these analyses point to the existence of a latent variable grouping the risk behaviors that lead to greater confrontation with the norms of conventional society. The analysis of the relation of this latent variable with indicators of academic failure and satisfaction with peers and adults also produces findings that are consistent with the proposed interpretation. Finally, some recommendations are made for the planning of preventive interventions as a result of the findings.