Abstract:

Background: Risk health behavior can be prevented or reduced if risk health behaviors of adolescents are identified and specific planning and regulation and potential protection measures are taken. Objective: This study was conducted to determine the risk health behaviors of adolescents and the factors that affect them. Method: After obtaining ethics committee and institutional permissions, the researchers carried out this study in four high schools affiliated with the Ministry of National Education in Fethiye, Mugla during the 2013-2014 academic year. A total of 2,117 students were the study population, and the study sample included 871 students. A socio-demographic data collection form and the Risky Health Behaviors Scale were used to collect data. Among nonparametric tests, Mann Whitney U and Kruskal Wallis tests were used to compare scale and subscale mean scores and independent variables. Results: The average score of adolescents on risk health behaviors scale was found to be 58.92±6.63. The adolescents got the highest average risk score on the hygiene subdimension (89.91±10.74) and the lowest average score on the subdimension of substance abuse (29.66±15.83). This study found that age, gender, grade level, income level, parental education levels and number of siblings affected the risky health behaviors of adolescents (p<0.05). Last year male adolescents whose parents had higher education levels and income level had higher average scores on the substance abuse and psychosocial subdimensions. Their total risk health behaviors mean scores were also higher, and they were more likely to engage in risk behaviors. Compared to the male adolescents, females' mean scores on the hygiene subdimension were higher. This study determined that adolescents whose income level were higher and who had more siblings had higher average scores on the nutrition subdimension and had acquired risky nutrition habits. Conclusion: Since this study provides data for common risk behaviors in adolescents and factors that affect them, it has importance as a guide for nurses working in the area of school health, especially for planning health services for adolescents.

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