Self-reported Risk-taking Behavior Research Articles

Sex/gender differences in injury risk, types of injuries, and potential risk factors of adult recreational mountain-bikers in Tyrol

Introduction & Purpose In Austria, 99% of fatally injured (Pocecco et al., 2022) and 81% of accidented mountain-bikers (Woyke et al., 2024) are males. However, these evident sex/gender differences in prevalence do not allow any conclusions to be drawn either about the risk of injury or about potential risk factors between the sex/genders. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate possible sex/gender-specific differences in injury risk, types of injuries, and related potential risk factors in adult recreational mountain-bikers in Tyrol, Austria. Methods This retrospective survey was conducted in the surroundings of Innsbruck (Austria) in 2017-2019, involving randomly selected adult recreational mountain-bikers. A standardized questionnaire was used to collect data on injuries ever experienced during mountain-biking (MTB), including circumstances (e.g., skill level and risk-taking behaviour according to Ruedl et al. (2010), riding alone or in a group) related to the most severe injury. Proportions were compared by χ2 tests. Results In total, 1,439 mountain-bikers (37.8 ± 14.3 years, 33.4% females) were interviewed, 486 (33.8%) of them suffering one or more injuries requiring medical attention. Men showed a higher injury risk compared to women (37.2% vs. 26.9%, p < 0.001) and injured males reported a higher number of injuries during MTB compared to their female counterpart (2.4 ± 2.4 vs. 1.7 ± 1.4, p < 0.001). In general, concerning the most severe injury ever suffered during MTB, the most frequent injury types were fractures (28.4%), followed by open wounds (15.9%), contusions (14.5%), abrasions (12.0%), and ligament/muscle injuries (10.4%), showing sex/gender differences (p = 0.010). In particular, fractures were the most frequent injury type among male (32.7%), open wounds among female (20.3%) mountain-bikers. Moreover, men reported higher MTB skills (p < 0.001) and higher risk-taking behaviour (72.8% vs. 50.5%, p < 0.001) at the time of the worst accident compared to women. Additionally, males were more likely to be biking alone on the day of the accident compared to females (30.1% vs. 15.0%, p = 0.007), who tended to ride in groups. Discussion Comparably to alpine skiing and snowboarding (Ruedl et al., 2010), men were found to exhibit a higher skill level and engage in riskier behaviour more frequently than women. In alpine skiing and snowboarding, these two factors are associated with higher speeds (Ruedl et al., 2010), which could be therefore also the reason for the higher injury risk and frequency of fractures among the surveyed male mountain-bikers. In the present study, fractures were the most common self-reported injury type with 28%, which seems comparable to 24% of fractures in the study by Woyke et al. (2024). Conversely, biking in a group, which was more common among women, apparently did not lead to a higher risk of injury due to possible peer pressure. Conclusion Results of this study found sex/gender differences in injury risk, types of injury, and related potential risk factors in recreational adult mountain-bikers which should be considered in future preventive measures. In particular, relevant information campaigns should address especially males. Moreover, future research comparing injured and non-injured recreational mountain-bikers should be conducted to confirm or reject the hypothesized risk factors. References Pocecco, E., Wafa, H., Burtscher, J., Paal, P., Plattner, P., Posch, M., & Ruedl, G. (2022). Mortality in recreational mountain-biking in the Austrian Alps: A retrospective study over 16 years. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(19), Article 11965. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191911965 Ruedl, G., Pocecco, E., Sommersacher, R., Gatterer, H., Kopp, M., Nachbauer, W., & Burtscher, M. (2010). Factors associated with self-reported risk-taking behaviour on ski slopes. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 44(3), 204-206. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsm.2009.066779 Woyke, S., Hütter, A., Rugg, C., Tröger, W., Wallner, B., Ströhle, M., & Paal, P. (2024). Sex differences in mountain bike accidents in Austria from 2006 to 2018: A retrospective analysis. High Altitude Medicine & Biology, 25(1), 89-93. https://doi.org/10.1089/ham.2023.0086

Affective risk perception index as a screening tool for construction workers

Affective risk perception has been receiving attention from occupational safety researchers. This study proposes the Affective Risk Perception Index (ARPI) to serve as a screening tool and provides a guideline to researchers and safety practitioners for the use of the ARPI. 536 construction workers participated in a questionnaire survey. ARPI scores were analysed using the 15th percentile, median and 85th percentile to create four categories of ARPI, namely ‘poor’ (0–20 points), ‘moderate’ (21–41 points), ‘good’ (42–55 points) and ‘excellent’ (56–60 points). Hierarchical multiple regression was used to examine the predictive value of the ARPI for the self-reported risk-taking behaviour of construction workers and compare the four categories of the ARPI in predicting such behaviour. Compared to personal factors (including perceived behavioural control, attitude towards risk-taking behaviour and outcome expectancy), the ARPI made the relatively smaller contribution to explaining the variance of the self-reported risk-taking behaviour of construction workers. Results showed that construction workers who were classified as good or excellent in the ARPI engaged significantly less in risk-taking behaviour than those who had a poor or moderate level of affective risk perception. Furthermore, no statistically significant differences were observed between poor and moderate levels of affective risk perception and between good and excellent levels of affective risk perception in predicting the self-reported risk-taking behaviour of construction workers. Therefore, the cut-off score of the ARPI is 42 and the ARPI serves as a practical screening tool for predicting the risk-taking behaviour of construction workers.

Puberty and risky decision-making in male adolescents

Pubertal development is a potential trigger for increases in risk-taking behaviours during adolescence. Here, we sought to investigate the relationship between puberty and neural activation during risky decision-making in males using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Forty-seven males aged 12.5–14.5 years completed an fMRI risk-taking task (BART) and reported their tendencies for risky decision-making using a self-report questionnaire. Puberty was assessed through self-reported pubertal status and salivary testosterone levels. Testosterone concentration, but not physical pubertal status, was positively correlated with self-reported risk-taking behaviour, while neither was correlated with BART performance. Across the whole sample, participants had greater activation of the bilateral nucleus accumbens and right caudate on trials when they made a successful risky decision compared to trials when they made a safe choice or when their risky decision was unsuccessful. There was a negative correlation between pubertal stage and brain activation during unsuccessful risky decision-making trials compared within unsuccessful control trials. Males at a lower stage of pubertal development showed increased activation in the left insula, right cingulate cortex, dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC), right putamen and right orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) relative to more pubertally mature males during trials when they chose to take a risk and the balloon popped compared to when they watched the computer make an unsuccessful risky decision. Less pubertally mature males also showed greater activation in brain regions including the dmPFC, right temporal and frontal cortices, right OFC, right hippocampus and occipital cortex in unsuccessful risky trials compared to successful risky trials. These results suggest a puberty-related shift in neural activation within key brain regions when processing outcomes of risky decisions, which may reduce their sensitivity to negative feedback, and in turn contribute to increases in adolescent risk-taking behaviours.

An Ultra-Short Instrument to Assess Sensation Seeking: Psychometric Evaluation of the German Version of the Brief Sensation Seeking Scale (BSSS-4)

The personality trait of sensation seeking (SS) plays a prominent role in health-related risk behaviors and is associated with psychopathology, emotion regulation, and delinquency. Despite this high relevance, hardly any ultra-short self-report measures optimized for test duration exist for the assessment of SS. An exception is the Brief Sensation Seeking Scale (BSSS-4) consisting of four items, which is gaining international popularity. In this study, the German version of the BSSS-4 was psychometrically evaluated for the first time in a student sample (N=419). A unidimensional confirmatory measurement model showed adequate goodness of fit and internal consistency was in the satisfactory range (ω=0,73). As first evidence for adequate construct validity and in line with the hypotheses, associations of the BSSS-4 with male gender, self-reported risk-taking, and risk-taking behavior (operationalized via a lottery-based behavioral paradigm) but not with current depression were found. An examination of measurement invariance across men and women using multigroup CFA suggested that partial scalar measurement invariance can be assumed for the BSSS-4, when equality constraints for loadings and intercepts of Item 1 are relaxed. Considering its increasing international use, the German version of the BSSS-4 can be recommended overall: For an ultra-short instrument, it is sufficiently internally consistent and rather suitable for gender comparisons. In this regard, the facet of experience seeking may be problematic in terms of gender-dependent differences in measurement properties. In light of insufficiently rigorous tests of instruments for the assessment of SS, the results of comparisons between women and men may thus be interpreted with caution.

Sexual risk-taking behaviors among young migrant population in Sweden

BackgroundMigration is a complex process of high uncertainty with adjustments to new contexts and experiences influencing individuals’ health. This study aims to assess the prevalence of self-reported sexual risk-taking behaviors among migrant youth population in Sweden, fulfilling the research gap in that field.MethodsA pre-tested, web-based self-administered cross-sectional survey was used to collect data among 1563 migrant youth (15–25 years old) in Sweden. The survey was conducted in high schools and Swedish language schools for foreigners between December 2018 and November 2019. Pearson chi-square and t-tests were used to compare whether sociodemographic characteristics and migration status varied between those engaging in sexual risk behaviors or not. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the adjusted odds ratio of the key outcome variable and independent variables.ResultsThere is a profound heterogeneity in migrant youth characteristics related to engagement in different sexual risk-taking behaviors. Those engaging in condomless sex were older, coming from the Americas and Europe, living longer in Sweden and came to live with their family. Belonging to the Islamic religion was a protective factor. Sex under the influence of drugs was related to those from Europe, and Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and coming to Sweden to work/study, where age was a protective factor. Living longer in Sweden, coming for work/study or to live with family had higher odds to engage in sex in exchange for gifts/money.ConclusionThe results highlight the needed reconsideration of the broader system response that can influence migrant youth health outcomes and public health implications. The approach should consider and relate to sexual risk-taking behavior’s long-term consequences. Migrant youth background needs and knowledge should guide this response.

Self-reported risk-taking and sensation-seeking behavior predict helmet wear amongst Canadian ski and snowboard instructors.

Self-reported risk-taking and sensation-seeking behavior predict helmet wear amongst Canadian ski and snowboard instructors.

Are Risk-Taking and Ski Helmet Use Associated with an ACL Injury in Recreational Alpine Skiing?

According to the risk compensation hypothesis, the use of a ski helmet might provide a false sense of security, resulting in a riskier behavior by skiing faster or more aggressively, which might lead to an increased injury risk. Injury of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a common diagnosis in downhill skiers. Thus, the aim of the study was to evaluate the potential impact of risk-taking and ski helmet use on ACL injury risk in recreational skiing. Eighty-two ACL injured and 446 uninjured skiers with a mean age of 37.3 ± 11.9 years (52% females) were surveyed during the winter season 2018/19 about age, sex, self-reported risk-taking behavior, self-reported skill level, perceived speed, and ski helmet use. Multiple regression analysis revealed that older age (OR: 1.3, 95% CI: 1.2–1.4), riskier behavior (OR: 5.4, 95% CI: 2.8–10.5), and lower skill level (OR: 6.7, 95% CI: 3.4–13.3) were found to be factors associated with ACL injury, while ski helmet use was not. In conclusion, no support for the risk compensation hypothesis was found with regard to ACL injuries. Therefore, we doubt that ski helmet use increases the risk for ACL injury and recommend wearing a ski helmet due to reported protective effects.

Relationships between Head Impacts, Competitive Aggression, and Risk-taking Behavior in Collegiate Ice Hockey Players

Abstract Purpose To examine relationships between head impact kinematics sustained over a season and competitive aggression and self-reported risk-taking behavior in collegiate club ice-hockey athletes. Methods Twenty male ice-hockey players (19.9±1.2 y.o, 1.8±0.06 m, 78.5±5.7 kg) completed the Competitive Anger and Aggression Scale (CAAS, Range:0-84) and the Brief Sensation Seeking Scale (BSSS, Range:8-40) during the preseason as measures of competitive aggression and risk-taking behavior with higher/lower reflecting higher/lower aggression and risk taking. Penalty minutes (PM) and games played (GP) were taken from official game records. Head impact kinematics (number of impacts, linear mean, peak, cumulative acceleration) were recorded by tri-axial accelerometers worn during games/practices. Spearman correlation was performed to examine relationships between variables. Results The mean number of impacts was 76.6±54.9 (range: 6–171); mean and cumulative acceleration were 36.3±4.2g (range:27.8–42.2g) and 2829.4±2024.9g (range:198.4–6527.2g), respectively. Neither CAAS (mean: 48.7±10.9, range: 24–64) nor BSSS scores (mean: 25.3±4.4, range:15–32) were significantly related to impact kinematics. GP was significantly correlated with number of impacts (r=.63, p=.003) and cumulative linear acceleration (r=.61, p=.004). PM was significantly correlated with number of impacts (r=.52, p=.20) and cumulative linear acceleration (r=.55, p=.13). Conclusion There were no relationships between the head impact kinematics and self-reported aggressiveness or risk taking behavior, but more PM was strongly related to higher head impact loads. Considering PM may be useful in aiding to identify athletes who may sustain higher head impact loads, however, self-reports of behavior may not be.

Genetics of self-reported risk-taking behaviour, trans-ethnic consistency and relevance to brain gene expression

Risk-taking behaviour is an important component of several psychiatric disorders, including attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Previously, two genetic loci have been associated with self-reported risk taking and significant genetic overlap with psychiatric disorders was identified within a subsample of UK Biobank. Using the white British participants of the full UK Biobank cohort (n = 83,677 risk takers versus 244,662 controls) for our primary analysis, we conducted a genome-wide association study of self-reported risk-taking behaviour. In secondary analyses, we assessed sex-specific effects, trans-ethnic heterogeneity and genetic overlap with psychiatric traits. We also investigated the impact of risk-taking-associated SNPs on both gene expression and structural brain imaging. We identified 10 independent loci for risk-taking behaviour, of which eight were novel and two replicated previous findings. In addition, we found two further sex-specific risk-taking loci. There were strong positive genetic correlations between risk-taking and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Index genetic variants demonstrated effects generally consistent with the discovery analysis in individuals of non-British White, South Asian, African-Caribbean or mixed ethnicity. Polygenic risk scores comprising alleles associated with increased risk taking were associated with lower white matter integrity. Genotype-specific expression pattern analyses highlighted DPYSL5, CGREF1 and C15orf59 as plausible candidate genes. Overall, our findings substantially advance our understanding of the biology of risk-taking behaviour, including the possibility of sex-specific contributions, and reveal consistency across ethnicities. We further highlight several putative novel candidate genes, which may mediate these genetic effects.

Increased Risk-Taking Behaviour and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Val66Met Polymorphism Correlates to Decreased Serum Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Level in Heroin Users

Background: This study has examined the relationships and interactions between serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels, BDNF Val66Met polymorphism and self-reported risk-taking behaviour in individuals with a history of heroin use undergoing outpatient treatment in comparison to healthy individuals. Methods: We enrolled 167 heroin users and 86 healthy subjects and examined serum BDNF levels, Val66Met polymorphism, and personal characteristics using Connor Davidson Resilience Scale, Risk-taking (RT) propensity questionnaire, and Personality Assessment Inventory. Results: Heroin users had significantly higher serum BDNF levels than controls. In addition, serum BDNF levels were significantly higher in Val/Val carriers than in Met/Val or Met/Met in all recruited subjects. Furthermore, a stepwise multiple regression analysis of serum BDNF levels as a dependent variable with related factors showed that in heroin users, Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test score, anxiety and RT score were found as independent contributors to serum BDNF levels. When performing gene-environment interaction it was additionally found that heroin users with self-reported high risk-taking behaviour had significantly lower levels of serum BDNF among heroin users with the Met allele. Conclusions: These results indicate that genetic variant Met66 decreased the serum BDNF levels in combination with self-reported risk-taking propensity among heroin users. If results of future work confirm the influence of this combined effect between neurotrophic genotype and risk-taking behaviour, 66Met carriers might require higher levels of intervention to overcome their drug use pattern and risky behaviour.

Genome-wide analysis of self-reported risk-taking behaviour and cross-disorder genetic correlations in the UK Biobank cohort

Risk-taking behaviour is a key component of several psychiatric disorders and could influence lifestyle choices such as smoking, alcohol use, and diet. As a phenotype, risk-taking behaviour therefore fits within a Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) approach, whereby identifying genetic determinants of this trait has the potential to improve our understanding across different psychiatric disorders. Here we report a genome-wide association study in 116,255 UK Biobank participants who responded yes/no to the question “Would you consider yourself a risk taker?” Risk takers (compared with controls) were more likely to be men, smokers, and have a history of psychiatric disorder. Genetic loci associated with risk-taking behaviour were identified on chromosomes 3 (rs13084531) and 6 (rs9379971). The effects of both lead SNPs were comparable between men and women. The chromosome 3 locus highlights CADM2, previously implicated in cognitive and executive functions, but the chromosome 6 locus is challenging to interpret due to the complexity of the HLA region. Risk-taking behaviour shared significant genetic risk with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder, as well as with smoking and total obesity. Despite being based on only a single question, this study furthers our understanding of the biology of risk-taking behaviour, a trait that has a major impact on a range of common physical and mental health disorders.

Failure to retreat: Blunted sensitivity to negative feedback supports risky behavior in adolescents

Decision-making processes rarely occur in isolation. Rather, representations are updated constantly based on feedback to past decisions and actions. However, previous research has focused on the reaction to feedback receipt itself, instead of examining how feedback information is integrated into future decisions. In the current study, we examined differential neural sensitivity during risk decisions following positive versus negative feedback in a risk-taking context, and how this differential sensitivity is linked to adolescent risk behavior. Fifty-eight adolescents (ages 13–17 years) completed the Balloon Analogue Risk Task (BART) during an fMRI session and reported on their levels of risk-taking behavior. Results show that reduced medial PFC (mPFC) response following negative versus positive feedback is associated with fewer reductions in task-based risky decisions following negative feedback, as well as increased self-reported risk-taking behavior. These results suggest that reduced neural integration of negative feedback into during future decisions supports risky behavior, perhaps by discounting negative relative to positive feedback information when making subsequent risky decisions.

Are self‐reported risk‐taking behavior and helmet use associated with injury causes among skiers and snowboarders?

Over the last 10 years, ski helmet use has steadily increased worldwide. According to the "risk compensation theory," however, studies found that up to one third of skiers and snowboarders self-reported to engage in more risk taking when wearing a ski helmet. Therefore, to evaluate whether self-reported risk taking and ski helmet use affect accident causes on ski slopes, more than 2000 injured skiers and snowboarders were interviewed during the 2011/2012 winter season about accident causes and potential intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors. Chi-square tests revealed that ski helmet use did not significantly differ between self-reported risky and cautious people (81% vs 83%). Multivariate regression analysis revealed younger age groups [odds ratios (ORs) 1.8-1.9, P < 005], male sex (OR 2.4, P < 0.001), Austrian nationality (2.2, P < 0.001), higher skill level (1.7, P < 0.001), and off-slope skiing (OR 2.2, P = 0.060) to be predictive for a risky behavior on ski slopes. Neither the use of skis or snowboards nor accident causes were significantly associated with a riskier behavior on ski slopes. In conclusion, self-reported risk-taking behavior and ski helmet use seem not to be associated with accident causes leading to an injury among recreational skiers and snowboarders.

Living a Fast Life

The current research applied a mid-level evolutionary theory that has been successfully employed across numerous animal species—life history theory—in an attempt to understand the Dark Triad personality trait cluster (narcissism, psychopathy, and Machiavellianism). In Study 1 (N = 246), a measure of life history strategy was correlated with psychopathy, but unexpectedly with neither Machiavellianism nor narcissism. Study 2 (N = 321) replicated this overall pattern of results using longer, traditional measures of the Dark Triad traits and alternative, future-discounting indicators of life history strategy (a smaller-sooner, larger-later monetary dilemma and self-reported risk-taking behaviors). Additional findings suggested two sources of shared variance across the Dark Triad traits: confidence in predicting future outcomes and openness to short-term mating.

Preliminary Normative Data for the Evaluation of Risks Scale—Bubble Sheet Version (EVAR-B) for Large-Scale Surveys of Returning Combat Veterans

The Evaluation of Risks (EVAR) scale has been used to assess risk-taking propensity in military samples. This report provides preliminary reliability, validity, and normative data on a modified version of the instrument designed to facilitate data entry with optical scanners, the Evaluation of Risks-Bubble Sheet version (EVAR-B). 2,015 U.S. Army soldiers completed the EVAR-B and a survey assessing risk-related behaviors 3 months after returning home from combat deployment in Iraq. EVAR-B demonstrated acceptable internal consistency and reliability and correlated significantly with independent measures of self-reported risk-taking behavior, including alcohol use and aggressive behavior, in the weeks preceding the survey. Tentative cut-offs significantly differentiated heavy drinkers, dangerous drivers, and soldiers reporting recent aggressive outbursts. Normative data are provided for comparison with future studies. The EVAR-B is a reliable and valid measure of risk-taking propensity, which provides enhanced flexibility for administration and scoring in large surveys and field environments.

Factors associated with self-reported risk-taking behaviour on ski slopes

BackgroundIn recent years, discussions have arisen about the potential influence of wearing a ski helmet on an increasing level of risk taking and higher speeds on ski slopes.ObjectiveTo evaluate factors...

Promoting traffic safety among young male drivers by means of elaboration-based interventions

Previous research in social psychology has brought about significant changes in attitudes and behaviour by merely asking respondents to imagine, or reflect, on a phenomenon and arrive at their own conclusions. To test the potential of such interventions in the traffic safety area, an experiment comprising 353 young men 18–23 years old with a driver’s licence was conducted. Two experimental groups were induced to imagine a severe accident scenario and to visualize their feelings and the consequences on their future lives. A control group was interviewed about neutral issues. Attitudes towards risk-taking were measured post-intervention and at follow-up. The experimental groups showed more “ideal” attitudes than the control group post-intervention. At follow-up the attitudes of the experimental group remained unchanged, whereas the control group had changed towards more “ideal” attitudes. Self-reported risk-taking behaviour was measured pre-intervention and at follow-up. At follow-up all groups reported significantly less risk-taking behaviour than at pre-intervention. It is suggested that answering the questionnaires increased mental elaboration concerning risky driving, and it is concluded that interventions that unobtrusively make drivers reflect on their driving should be explored further as a means to promote traffic safety.

Self-reported risk-taking behaviors and hospitalization for motor vehicle injury among active duty Army personnel

Background: Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of injury in the Army. Behaviors increasing risk for motor vehicle crashes are also prevalent, but research has not linked these behaviors directly to injury outcomes (e.g., hospitalizations). Methods: To evaluate the relationship between behavior and motor vehicle crash injuries, 99,981 Army personnel who completed Health Risk Appraisal surveys in 1992 were followed for up to 6 years. Cox proportional hazards modeling was used to evaluate speeding, seat belt use, drinking patterns, and demographics. Results: A total of 429 soldiers were hospitalized for motor vehicle injury. Unadjusted analyses revealed that heavy drinking, drinking and driving, speeding, low seat belt use, younger age, minority race/ethnicity, and enlisted rank were significantly associated with motor vehicle injury, but neither smoking nor gender was. Multivariate models showed a significant trend of increasing injury risk with younger ages. Soldiers under age 21 were injured almost five times more often than those over age 40 (HR 4.89, 2.56–9.33). Also associated with risk for hospitalizations were minority race (HR 1.78, 1.46–2.18), heaviest drinkers versus abstainers (HR 1.81, 1.11–2.94), and seat belt use of 50% or less versus 100% (HR 1.40, 1.07–1.85). Although nonsignificant, there was evidence of an age–drinking interaction where the difference in injury risk between those older and those younger than 21 was greatest at low alcohol consumption levels. Conclusions: Modifiable risk factors associated with motor vehicle injuries include heavy drinking and low seat belt use. Programs targeting these behaviors that meet the needs of young and minority soldiers are needed. The high density of young, at-risk soldiers residing in base housing may provide a unique opportunity for a residential intervention program.

Physical Activity Levels and Self-Reported Risk-Taking Behavior among Rural Australian and American 7th–9th Grade Adolescents

This study compares self-reported physical activities and selected health behaviors (i.e., participation in physical activity, alcohol and cigarette use, perceived level of energy, and satisfaction with body weight) of a sample of seventh and ninth grade adolescents from Australia and the United States. A modified version of the Personal Wellness Profile 400™ (PWP 400) was used to measure adolescents' participation in physical activity and health behaviors. Five of the seven items studied showed significant differences (p < .05). Ninety-seven percent of Australian adolescents reported they engaged in physical activity long enough to work up a sweat four or more times per week, compared to 94 percent of U.S. adolescents. The Australian cohort, however, reported a significantly higher level of ever smoking (34.1% vs. 12.3%), and drinking alcohol during the past year than did U.S. adolescents (55.0% vs. 16.0%). Male adolescents demonstrated significant differences on five of the seven items measured. Australian males reported greater participation in physical activity, smoking and drinking, and reported they had higher levels of energy than did U.S. males. The female adolescents also demonstrated significant differences on five of the seven items measured, e.g., over 76 percent of Australian females reported engaging in strength exercises at least once a week compared to 59 percent of U.S. females, and only 23 percent of Australian females reported they were sedentary compared to 41 percent of U.S. females. Finally, the relationship between physical activity and involvement with risk-taking behaviors and health-related attitudes for both samples was examined. Increased activity was associated with less smoking, more satisfaction with body weight, and perceived higher energy level for U.S. adolescents. Drinking alcohol was not associated with activity level for U.S. adolescents. For Australian adolescents there was no association between physical activity and risk-taking behaviors and health-related attitudes. Future research should continue to examine cultural differences.

Self-reported sexual behaviors of high school juniors and seniors in North Dakota.

The period of adolescence is characterized as a time of experimentation during which adolescents may engage in adult behavior in the absence of understanding the consequences of these behaviors. The purpose of this study was to examine the self-reported sexual behaviors of late adolescent junior and senior high school students (N = 7,699). The study indicated a significantly high and disconcerting frequency of self-reported risk-taking sexual behavior.