Health‐risk behaviors in adolescents as indicators of unconventional lifestyles

Abstract

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.

Patterns of health-related behaviours among adolescents: a cross-sectional study based on the National Survey of School Health Brazil 2012

“…Among Brazilian adults, drinking alcohol and smoking were found as part of a risky lifestyle pattern, together with lack of physical activity and unhealthy diet intake,8 in contrast with our findings among adolescents. Among adults, drinking alcohol and smoking are common and socially accepted, while they are contesting or rule-breaking behaviours among adolescents 9. This may explain why our study found a problem-behaviour pattern with drinking alcohol and smoking together with aggressive behaviour and not in the compromising behaviour, which included unhealthy diet and sedentary behaviour.…”

“…The difference between these two risk-behaviour patterns may lie at the level of their social acceptability. According to the literature, violent behaviour, drug use and smoking are less socially acceptable behaviours among adolescents,9 and were captured by the problem-behaviour pattern, while the health-compromising diet and sedentary behaviours pattern brought together behaviours that represent harm to health but are not seen as unacceptable either by students or society, such as unhealthy food consumption and sedentary behaviour 9. Among Brazilian adults, drinking alcohol and smoking were found as part of a risky lifestyle pattern, together with lack of physical activity and unhealthy diet intake,8 in contrast with our findings among adolescents.…”

Perfil de morbidade e hospitalização entre adolescentes da região de Ribeirão Preto/SP

“…Estão relacionadas diretamente com a urbanização acelerada, migração interna, desigualdades sociais e marginalização, fatores indissociáveis da violência que acomete todas as faixas etárias, principalmente no sexo masculino, devido à maior exposição ao álcool, tabagismo, drogas, inserção no mercado de trabalho informal e atividades ilícitas. 17,18 Em hospitais norte-americanos os acidentes foram identificados como a principal causa de internação entre os adolescentes de 10 a 14 anos de ambos os sexos e para os rapazes com mais de 15 anos, enquanto que as complicações da gravidez determinaram a maioria das internações na faixa etária dos 15 aos 19 anos. 19 Achados semelhantes também foram relatados no Brasil, sendo identificadas as causas externas como a principal causa de mortalidade entre adolescentes, principalmente no sexo masculino e na faixa etária dos 15 aos 19 anos.…”

Factors Associated with Violent Behavior among Adolescents in Northeastern Brazil

“…The World Health Organization defines violence as the use of physical force or real threat power against oneself, against another person, or against a group or community, which either results in or has any chance of resulting in injury, death, psychological harm, development disability, or deprivation [1, 2]; thus violent behavior can be considered as the behavior that leads the subject or community to commit violent acts.…”

“…A greater concern is the group of children and adolescents, they appear in the statistics as the most seriously injured and more murders of occurrences, as suggested by several studies in an attempt to expand the knowledge about the possible factors associated with physical fights among youngsters [1–4]. …”