Risky Behaviors Research Articles

Improving Students Access to Primary Health Care Through School-Based Health Centers.

More than 20 million children in the United States lack access to primary health care. Research shows that students with regular access to physical and mental health services have fewer absences, are more social, less likely to participate in risky behaviors, have improved focus and higher test scores. School-based health centers (SBHCs) can be an important, valuable and viable health care delivery option to meet the full-range of primary health care needs of students where they spend the majority of their wake hours, ie, in school. Children in rural and other underserved communities, as well as those underinsured, non-insured, economically challenged, underserved, and the most vulnerable among us are especially at risk. This paper discusses the history, value, and importance of SBHCs from myriad perspectives, including physical and emotional wellbeing, academic and social success, and the promotion of a positive transition to adulthood. In addition, the authors' experiences that resulted in building the first SBHC in the Mid-Hudson Valley Region of New York State are shared. These experiences form the foundation for creating an important roadmap for individuals and school leaders that are interested in bringing a SBHC to their school and district.

Lifestyle Behaviors of Childhood and Adolescence: Contributing Factors, Health Consequences, and Potential Interventions

In this narrative review, we summarized evidence from peer-reviewed articles, published before February 2024, that investigated lifestyle behaviors among children (≤12 years) and adolescents (13-18 years) representing different geographic descents. These behaviors included dietary patterns, screen time, physical activity, smoking, alcohol consumption, oral hygiene, unsafe sex, and sleep duration and quality. We documented the significant impacts of parental, school, and sociodemographic factors on the adoption of numerous lifestyle behaviors in this age category. Several health consequences could be attributed to unhealthy lifestyle behaviors during childhood and adolescence. For example, poor dietary habits can lead to a higher risk of obesity and cardiovascular disease. Physical inactivity contributes to the development of musculoskeletal and psychological disorders. Excessive screen time is associated with visual acuity problems, poor sleep, and psychological and behavioral problems. Tobacco use poses a significant risk for severe respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Risky sexual behaviors are related to sexually transmitted infections and exposure to violence. Short sleep duration is associated with a lack of physical fitness and poor cognitive function. However, potential interventions, such as school-based health programs, community outreach initiatives, and national health policies and regulations, can improve lifestyle behaviors among children and adolescents.

Characteristics of men who have casual sex with men among Chinese university students: A cross-sectional study.

The characteristics of men who have sex with men (either exclusively or with both men and women; MSM) who engaged in casual sex among Chinese male university students have not been compared with the characteristics of men who have sex with only women (MSW). This information is important for tailoring targeted behavioral interventions to prevent human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/sexually transmitted infection (STI) transmission in this subgroup of MSM. Data were derived from a large cross-sectional electronic questionnaire survey conducted at 13 universities in Zhejiang Province, China, in 2018. Bivariate analyses were used to compare demographic, HIV-related psychosocial, and behavioral characteristics between MSM and MSW students who engaged in casual sex during the previous year. Proportion differences between the two groups and their 95% confidence intervals were analyzed. Among the 583 sexually active male students who engaged in casual sex during the previous year, 128 and 455 were MSM and MSW, respectively. Compared with MSW students, larger proportions of MSM students reported knowing that male-to-male sexual behavior was the main mode of HIV transmission among Chinese students (62.5% vs. 45.5%), consenting to commercial sex (67.2% vs. 53.4%), wanting to know the HIV serostatus of partners before casual sex (65.8% vs. 51.3%), feeling at risk of HIV infection (40.5% vs. 11.8%), high condom-decision scale scores (55.3% vs. 42.6%), engaging in sex with ≥ 5 casual sex partners (44.6% vs. 25.9%), searching for casual partners online (89.2% vs. 51.3%), consuming alcohol before casual sex (64.8% vs. 45.0%), engaging in sex with regular partners (83.1% vs. 67.0%), engaging in commercial sex (54.2% vs. 26.4%), and visiting a clinic for voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) (16.4% vs. 8.4%). However, compared with MSW students, smaller proportions of MSM students reported knowing that consistent condom use could prevent HIV transmission (80.5% vs. 95.2%) and that VCT should be actively sought after risky sexual behavior (78.9% vs. 93.8%), using condoms sometimes/often (26.4% vs. 44.3%), and consistently using condoms (28.9% vs. 40.1%) while engaging in sex with casual partners. MSM students who engaged in casual sex were at a greater risk of HIV/STI transmission, compared with MSW students. Comprehensive interventions to address the risks of unprotected male-to-male sex, searching for casual sex partners online, and non-use of HIV testing services are needed to reduce the burden of HIV/STI transmission among this subgroup of MSM.

Parental Provision of Alcohol and Teenage Risky Behavior

Parental Provision of Alcohol and Teenage Risky Behavior

Promoting (Safe) Young-User Cycling in Russian Cities: Relationships among Riders’ Features, Cycling Behaviors and Safety-Related Incidents

Background: Promoting cycling, walking and other ‘active’ transportation means continues to be a shared guideline in urban planning, closely aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. Nonetheless, young cyclists’ safety figures and their potential contributors, including behavioral issues, remain an ongoing concern for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers. Aim: This study aimed to analyze both risky and protective riding patterns of young Russian cyclists in relation to cycling safety factors using the Cycling Behavior Questionnaire (CBQ). Methods: This study used the data provided by 374 young Russian cyclists, aged M = 21.6 (SD = 4.8) years, who responded to an electronic survey on cycling behavior and safety outcomes. Results: Beyond demographic characteristics, the key road rule knowledge and risk perception of young cyclists were significantly associated with their self-reported cycling behaviors. Although both traffic violations and riding errors were negatively correlated with safety incidents, predictive analyses show that errors (though not violations) play a predictive role in young cyclists’ safety-related incidents. Conversely, positive cycling behaviors have been shown to be significant reducers of riding crash likelihood. Conclusion: The results of this study support the idea that addressing key issues such as risk perception, road rule knowledge and protective riding habits, while also targeting risky behaviors on the road, could enhance cycling safety outcomes. Additionally, these findings offer valuable insights into understanding the factors contributing to riding risks and crashes among young cyclists, particularly in the context of the increasing need to promote safer and more sustainable urban mobility in a country with a still young cycling culture.

Mixed-methods community assessment of drowning and water safety knowledge and behaviours on Lake Victoria

BackgroundDrowning is a major cause of death in Uganda, especially among young adults with water-based occupations and livelihoods. Information about drowning and other water-related deaths and injuries is limited. To...

Self-regulatory Sex Motives Scale in Online Dating: Exploratory Factor Analysis and Internal Consistency.

Risky sex behavior is common among online dating users. Understanding the motives behind risky sex behavior might help identify suitable targets for prevention. We developed the Self-regulatory Sex Motives Scale in Online Dating (SSOD) to assess sex motives for casual sex in online dating users. This study evaluated the psychometric properties of the SSOD and examined the relationship between sex motives indexed by the SSOD and risky sex behavior. The new scale showed high internal consistency. Exploratory factor analysis suggested a one-factor solution. Sex motives were related to a higher frequency of having sex on the first date.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus / Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Prevention Behavior among Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM) in the Gender Sexuality Group Community

Between January-August 2019, Central Sulawesi Province recorded 235 HIV and 94 AIDS cases. Data from the Gender Sexuality Group indicates that their community houses 28 MSM, 18 of whom are living with HIV/AIDS. This research seeks to understand HIV/AIDS prevention behaviors among MSM at the Gender Sexuality Group Community in Palu City. A qualitative case study approach was employed, with data collection through triangulation techniques including in-depth interviews, observation, and documentation using interview guides. Results show that MSM within the Gender Sexuality Group community demonstrate good knowledge of HIV/AIDS prevention. However, four out of seven informants still engage in risky behaviors. To address this, community and healthcare workers need to provide better infrastructure for HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, especially for MSM living with HIV. Collaborative support from healthcare workers and the community is crucial in strengthening and assisting MSM. It's recommended that the Gender Sexuality Group community continues to conduct Communication, Information, and Education (CIE) activities to enhance MSM knowledge, particularly about HIV transmission and prevention. All MSM should undergo HIV testing at least twice a year. The community could organize seminars featuring disguised MSM PLWHA (People Living with HIV/AIDS) from outside the city as resource persons to increase awareness about HIV/AIDS within the key community

Vulnerability to risky sexual behavior among patients with severe mental illness in Uganda

BackgroundThe relationship between severe mental illness and risky sexual behaviors, defined as acts associated with a higher risk level is notably significant in sub-Saharan Africa. In Uganda, mental disorders have been substantially correlated with unsafe sexual practices, contributing to the global burden of risky sexual behaviors. The consequential outcomes, such as sexually transmitted diseases, has resulted into a significant challenge in managing severe mental illness and potentially increased risky sexual behaviour. There is an urgent need to identify and understand factors specific to Uganda that amplify the vulnerability of severe mental illness patients to risky sexual behaviors. This study aimed to understand the vulnerability factors to risky sexual behaviour in severe mental illness in central and south-western Uganda, seeking to inform the development of tailored and effective intervention strategies to address this critical issue.MethodsThis was a qualitative descriptive study that was carried out at Butabika and Masaka hospitals in Uganda, involving a varied group of 32 individuals, comprising 12 persons with diagnosed Severe Mental Illness (Schizophrenia, Bipolar Affective Disorder, or Recurrent Major Depressive Disorder) and to risky sexual behaviors, 8 caregivers (who had patients with severe mental illness and to risky sexual behaviors) and 12 mental health specialists, (who had treated these participants). Purposive sampling was done by intentionally selecting participants based on specific attributes relevant to the research question and the objective of the study which was to explore the factors contributing vulnerability to risky sexual behaviour in severe mental illness in central and south-western Uganda. The interviews were conducted, centered on personal experiences and influences on risky sexual behaviors for the persons with severe mental illness, targeting insights into the nuanced interplay of severe mental illness and sexual behavior. For caregivers and mental health specialists, the interviews were conducted to gain a comprehensive understanding of the unique challenges, perspectives, and experiences they encounter in providing support and treatment respectively. The interviews were tape-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Framework analysis of transcribed interviews, using NVivo11 software that helped to systematically organize and code data within the predetermined and emergent thematic framework, we were able to identify patterns and themes to address the research question and objective.ResultsThe study findings underscored a pervasive pattern of engaging in risky sexual behavior among individuals coping with severe mental illness, a growing concern traditionally associated with sexually transmitted infections like HIV and AIDS, unwanted pregnancies, and sexual encounters with strangers. This problem was largely attributed to factors such as compromised judgment due to underlying morbidity, abnormally high libido, poverty, desperation, and inadequate social support. Additionally, sexual deprivation, often a result of stigma, discrimination, and prolonged periods of hospitalization, was found to contribute to irresponsible and risky sexual acts. Respondents also highlighted certain practices and structural weaknesses within hospital environments, such as stripping patients naked when going to seclusion rooms and inadequate patient monitoring.ConclusionsThe findings underscore the need for targeted interventions addressing both individual and structural factors to alleviate the risks associated with sexual behavior among individuals with severe mental illness.

What may encourage or deter health services utilization by people living with or at the risk of HIV/AIDS in special health centers? Qualitative evidence from a stigmatized community

BackgroundBehavioral Diseases Counseling Centers (BDCCs) and Vulnerable Women’s Counseling Centers (VWCCs) in Iran are the main peripheral centers that offer educational, counseling, diagnostic, preventive, curative and protective services to individuals living with or at high risk of contracting HIV/AIDS and female sex workers respectively. Due to the social stigma surrounding HIV in Iran, this study aims to identify the factors that may hinder or encourage HIV/AIDS patients and women with risky sexual behaviors from visiting these centers.MethodsConducted in 2023, this qualitative study involved individuals visiting BDCCs and VWCCs in two western provinces of Iran, Ilam and Kermanshah. The study participants included 21 health staff members working in BDCCs and VWCCs and 20 HIV/AIDS patients and vulnerable women with unsafe sexual behaviors referring to these centers. Purposive, snowball and maximum variation sampling techniques were applied to interview the participants. Interviews were conducted between January 5th and May 21st, 2023, using a semi-structure guideline. Interviews were transcribed and content analysis approach was applied to analyze data using MAXQDA20 software.ResultsAccording to the findings, the barriers and facilitators of visiting specialized centers for HIV/AIDS patients and vulnerable women were categorized into three main categories, 10 subcategories and 35 sub-subcategories including: Medical and operational processes (4 subcategories and 12 sub-subcategories), mutual interactions between the personnel and visitors (people living with and at the risk of getting HIV/AIDS) (3 subcategory and 13 sub-subcategories), and physical characteristics of the centers (3 subcategories and 10 sub-subcategories).ConclusionsTo improve the performance of BDCCs and VWCCs and encourage people living with and at the risk of contracting HIV/AIDS to visit these centers regularly, health policy makers should consider modifying clinical processes, physical features, personnel behaviors and visitors’ concerns raised by the interviewees and the issues identified in this study.

Ecological validity of common behavioral decision making tasks: evidence across two samples

ABSTRACT Background Clinicians and scholars routinely use behavioral decision tasks to assess real-world decision making capabilities. However, many common behavioral decision making tasks lack data on the extent to which they predict real-world risky behaviors. Across two pre-registered studies, and two timepoints, we assessed decision making abilities using common behavioral tasks and predicted participants’ real-world risky decision making from task performance. Method In Study 1, 918 Mechanical Turk (MTurk) workers completed three decision making tasks in addition to assessments of real-world risk behavior: preventive health behaviors, COVID-19 vaccination status, and virtual social distancing task performance. In Study 2, 221 college student participants completed the Study 1 tasks plus additional assessments of decision making and real world risk and protective behaviors. Results Across both studies, the selected behavioral decision tasks rarely predicted real world behavior and, when they did, the relationship was weak at best. Conclusions These data suggest that these behavioral decision making tasks may not be good predictors of real world risky behavior at present, with some evidence that the specificity of the behavior being assessed matters (i.e. the closer the task was to the specific behavior being predicted), calling for additional ecological validity research, with a greater variety of tasks in the future.

A scoping review on self-regulation and reward processing measured with gambling tasks: Evidence from the general youth population.

Aberrant reward processing and poor self-regulation have a crucial role in the development of several adverse outcomes in youth, including mental health disorders and risky behaviours. This scoping review aims to map and summarise the evidence for links between aspects and measures of reward processing and self-regulation among children and adolescents in the general population. Specifically, it examined the direct associations between self-regulation (emotional or cognitive regulation) and reward processing. Studies were included if participants were <18 years and representative of the general population. Quantitative measures were used for self-regulation, and gambling tasks were used for reward processing. Of the eighteen studies included only two were longitudinal. Overall, the direction of the significant relationships identified depended on the gambling task used and the self-regulation aspect explored. Emotional regulation was measured with self-report questionnaires only, and was the aspect with the most significant associations. Conversely, cognitive regulation was mainly assessed with cognitive assessments, and most associations with reward processing were non-significant, particularly when the cognitive regulation aspects included planning and organisational skills. Nonetheless, there was some evidence of associations with attention, cognitive control, and overall executive functioning. More longitudinal research is needed to draw accurate conclusions on the direction of the association between self-regulation and reward processing.

Campus Wellness Program Evaluation: Effectiveness of a Brief Psychoeducation Intervention for Wellness Promotion

Background: College students are experiencing high levels of stress and compromised well-being, compounded by sedentary lifestyle and risky behaviors. In response to these challenges, college campuses are offering a variety of wellness programming intervention opportunities. Aim: This research study examined the effectiveness of a brief psychoeducational intervention on perceptions of stress, wellness, mental health, and life satisfaction. Methods: The study utilized a longitudinal, explanatory mixed methods design, with random assignment. To augment quantitative data, brief, semi-structured interviews were completed with 13 study participants post-intervention. Results: Results of repeated-measures analysis of variance (RM-ANOVA) demonstrated no significant between-group differences. Intervention group pair-wise comparisons revealed positive trends across time for several outcome variables. Applied Thematic Analysis (ATA) revealed four primary themes including: stress-reduction benefits of relaxation techniques, improved knowledge of health impacts of alcohol, increased intentionality regarding nutrition habits, and need for increased accessibility of wellness programming. Conclusions: This study provides insight into the strengths and limitations of brief psychoeducation interventions in facilitating lifestyle change among college students. Implications for campus wellness programming are discussed.

Is the military CEO aggressive or conservative? Differences in legal and cultural factors around the world

We address the puzzle of why military CEOs do not uniformly undertake riskier corporate policies to enhance the competitive advantage of firms. We argue that understanding the military CEOs’ risk taking behaviour is incomplete without accounting for institutional setting across countries. Grounding on institutional theory, we test the moderating role of formal and informal institutions by using a sample of 90 countries around the world. We find that military imprint influences military CEOs to undertake riskier corporate policies. We further find that countries with higher quality of formal institutions and individualistic culture strengthen risk taking propensity, while eastern religion countries weaken the risky behaviour. Findings of this paper yields implication for firms and policymakers seeking to encourage risk taking behaviour for enhancement of competitive advantage.

Sexual and reproductive health screening and counseling in adolescent and young adult transplant recipients.

Adolescents and young adults with and without chronic illnesses partake in risk-taking behavior. Clinicians in transplant clinics should be aware of the prevalence of risk-taking behavior in their adolescent and young adult solid organ transplant patients in order to provide complete care. Creating an environment where teens and young adults feel comfortable discussing risky behavior is important and includes creating a privacy policy and increasing comfort of the healthcare provider in asking sensitive questions. This review is intended to help the providers in the transplant clinic screen for and counsel about risk-taking behaviors with their adolescent and young adult patients, specifically around sexual and reproductive health.

Psychosocial Distress Among Young Men Who Have Sex With Men: A Scoping Review.

Psychosocial distress negatively impacts coping and adaptation among young men (aged 18 to 44 years) who have sex with men (YMSM) with, or at risk of acquiring, HIV. However, the stressors and risky behaviors associated with psychosocial distress that impair viral suppression have not been clearly explicated. The current scoping review was conducted to explore the extant literature and identify research gaps. PubMed and CINAHL were searched for peer-reviewed publications, with a total of eight articles meeting inclusion criteria. Stressors that contributed to psychosocial distress included HIV+ status, stigma, discrimination, insufficient resources, exposure to community violence, and incarceration. Risky behaviors impacting viral suppression were condomless anal sex, drug use, and medication nonadherence. Understanding and addressing psychosocial distress is imperative for providing holistic care tailored to the unique health care needs of YMSM. A better understanding of stressors and associated risky behaviors will aid efforts to mitigate psychosocial distress and reduce viral load among YMSM. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, xx(xx), xx-xx.].

Analyzing road user risk perception among Indian drivers on varying curve geometry: A structural equation modeling approach

Driver risk perception ability depends on how they perceive and interpret information from different sources to safely and comfortably operate their vehicles based on the highway features ahead. The present study is divided into two parts to review these aspects: (a) identifying the factors that influence driver risk-taking behavior, and (b) evaluating the soundness of the identified factors by comparing them with quantitative risk perception. For that, 1075 user perception data were collected using a developed questionnaire form through face-to-face interviews. A questionnaire form consists of a total of 33 questions/variables. After applying the factor reduction techniques, namely principal component analysis, the most significant variables (19 questions/variables) influencing the user’s perception are identified. Then, considering these significant variables, five separate risk perception models were developed using the Structural Equation Modeling technique for five varying curve geometries. The results revealed that the user’s risk perception changes for the same user for varying curve geometry. It is also identified that male drivers have more risky behavior (lower risk perception) than female drivers. Besides, Garrett’s ranking technique is also adopted to rank the user risk perception for the varying curve geometry to identify the dangerous curves by assigning the rank. Lastly, to check the feasibility of the results, the risk perception score is also compared with the quantitative risk score. Based on the study results, it is concluded that the study findings will be helpful for highway planners and authorities to introduce some safety measures to alert users of the potential hazards on the roadside and increase their capacity for taking risks on complex curves; hence, the likelihood of crashes can be minimized.

Exploring the Influence of Drivers’ Visual Surroundings on Speeding Behavior

Despite awareness campaigns and legal consequences, speeding is a significant cause of road accidents and fatalities globally. To combat this issue, understanding the impact of a driver's visual surroundings is crucial in designing roadways that discourage speeding. This study investigates the influence of visual surroundings on drivers in 15 US cities using 3,407,253 driver view images from Lytx, covering 4,264 miles of roadways. By segmenting and analyzing these images along with vehicle-related variables, the study examines factors affecting speeding behavior. After filtering the images, to ensure an accurate representation of the driver’s view, 1,340,035 driver view images were used for analysis. Statistical models, including hurdle beta and bivariate probit models with random driver effects as well as Machine Learning’s eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), were employed to estimate speeding behavior. The results indicate that factors within the driver's visual environment, weather conditions, and driver heterogeneity significantly impact speeding. Speeding behavior also varies across geographic locations, even within the same city, suggesting a connection between local context and speeding. The study highlights the importance of the driver's environment, showing that more open spaces encourage speeding, while areas with trees and buildings are associated with reduced speeding. Notably, this research differs from previous studies by utilizing real-time data from dash cameras, providing a dynamic and accurate representation of the driver's visual surroundings. This approach enhances the reliability of the findings and empowers transportation engineers and planners to make informed decisions when designing roadways and implementing interventions to address effectively excessive speeding. In addition to examining speeding behavior, the study also analyzes time-headway, a key factor affecting safety and risky driver behavior, to explore its relationship with speeding. The findings offer valuable insights into the factors influencing speeding and the driver's visual environment. These insights can inform efforts to create environments that discourage speeding (and close car following) and ultimately reduce severe accidents caused by excessive speed (and tailgating).

Attitudes towards zoonotic disease risk vary across sociodemographic, communication and health-related factors: A general population survey on literacy about zoonoses in the Netherlands

IntroductionLiteracy about zoonoses can contribute people adapt their behaviour to minimize zoonotic risks. In this study, associations between sociodemographic factors and zoonotic risk-averse attitudes were explored. ObjectiveTo determine factors significantly associated with literacy about zoonoses across sociodemographic groups to inform targeted interventions aiming at improving awareness and zoonotic risk-avoidance behaviours. MethodData was collected in 2022 using an online survey of a nationally representative sample of residents in the Netherlands. A multivariable logistic regression analysis, accounting for multiple hypothesis testing, was applied to assess whether there were significant associations between socio-demographic factors and attitudes towards zoonosis prevention. ResultsA total of 2039 respondents completed the survey. People who were female, older, highly educated and those who searched for information about zoonoses, were relatively more likely to report behaviours favourable to the prevention of zoonoses. However, people with limited language and computer skills and immunocompromised people were significantly more likely to report risky behaviours. There were no significant associations found for pregnant women, dog and cat owners, those with an intermediate level of education and those who do have contact with farm animals. ConclusionCertain sociodemographic groups display significantly riskier attitudes towards zoonoses. These groups provide targets where to improve literacy about zoonoses. This also implies that there is room for improvement in literacy about zoonoses, particularly among immunocompromised people and people with limited language and limited computer skills.

Do Risk-Taking Cyclists Have Different Sociodemographic Characteristics? An Observational Study at Intersections in a French City

The increase in cycling accidents can hinder the increased use of this transportation mode. To identify the sociodemographic factors explaining risky cyclists’ behaviors is therefore important. The relationships between some sociodemographic variables (gender, age, parenthood, use of a shared versus a personal bike) and some risky behaviors (helmet use, red-light running, crossing an intersection with a very short time before the next passing vehicle) remain inconsistent or under-investigated in the literature. These relationships were therefore investigated in a French population. Cyclists ( N = 2,788) were observed at two traffic signal intersections in the city center of Lille, France. Two cameras per site were used to score each cyclist’s variables (with a minimum of intercoder reliability = 80%). Men (versus women) and young (versus older) cyclists are less likely to wear a helmet and more likely to run red lights. Cyclists with (versus without) a child seat were more likely to wear a helmet, suggesting that parenthood influences risk perception. Shared (versus personal) bike users were found to be significantly less likely to wear a helmet and more likely to run red lights. This highlights the importance of further investigating whether shared bike users are more likely to take different types of risk on the road. Various factors (psychosocial, enforcement, road design) are discussed to explain these findings and prevent risks. The importance of adapting road safety interventions to the sociodemographic characteristics of cyclists is also discussed.