Risky behaviors of adolescent boys: A high school sample

Background: The World Health Organization defines “10-19 age group” as adolescence period during which risky behaviors are more common especially between 16-18 years. With this present study it was aimed to determine the risky behaviors of 16-18 years high school students in order to form a basis for the planned training and monitoring program. Methods: This cross-sectional type study has been conducted in the industrial vocational high school in Corum. No sample selection was made. The sample of study consisted of 16-18 years voluntarily participating adolescents (n = 790), who were visiting the high school during the research dates (September-December 2014). As data collection tool a self-description form (SDF) and adolescents risk-taking scale (ARTS) have been used. The data has been evaluated with appropriate statistical methods. p<0.05 has been accepted as statistically significant. Results: The average of age within the scope of study was 17.3 ± 0.2 years old and all were male. According to the evaluation of ARTS it has been observed that 48.5% of adolescents are in the risky group and risk-taking average is increasing with in case of having smokers among family and friends. It has been found out that the differences between ARTS median value and their age as well as the smoking habits among family and friends are stastically significant (p<0.05). Conclusions: According to the applied ARTS evaluation it has been determined that the adolescents risk-taking score is alarming high. Whereas provided traditional-classical training for the prevention of risky behaviors in adolescents appear to be ineffective, the importance of revealing alternative ways in order to eliminate risky behaviors of adolescents come to the fore.