Prevalence of risky behaviors and relationship of risky behaviors with substance use among university students

Abstract

Prevalence of risky behaviors and relationship of risky behaviors with substance use among university studentsObjective: This study aims to evaluate the prevalence of risky behaviors, frequently encountered in young adulthood, and the relationship between such behaviors and substance use in the university population. Method: This cross sectional, web-based, self-report study was carried out in a state university with 53,003 students. The power analysis was conducted according to the lowest prevalence (0.01%-0.6%) of substance use in universities in Turkey. A sample of 3,184 people was found to be sufficient for the research. The data of 2,973 individuals who completed the Addiction Profile Index was evaluated. Frequency tests, Pearson chi-square and logistic regression were used in the statistical analysis. Results: As participants 1,629 (54.8%) females and 1,344 (45.2%) males were included in the study. Suicidal plans or attempts and self-harming behaviors were significantly more prevalent among female students; carrying a weapon (penknife/knife/gun), engaging in physical fights, sustaining injuries in physical fights, early sexual relation experiences, condom usage, cigarette, alcohol, energy drink and substance consumption were significantly more prevalent among male students (p<0.001). Frequent suicidal plans or attempts (11.3 times) and early sexual experiences, before the age of 15 (16.6 times) were found to be riskier behaviors with regard to substance use; as the consumption of cigarettes, alcohol and energy drink increased, so did the risk of substance use. Conclusion: Gender is a distinctive characteristic with regard to risky behaviors among young people. The relationship between risky behaviors and substance use suggests that one risky behavior may lead to another. As such, it is necessary to evaluate the substance use among young people with risky behaviors and to examine other risky behaviors which accompany the substance use problems. Keywords: Risk-taking, substance abuse, university students ÖZET Üniversite öğrencilerinde riskli davranışların yaygınlığı ve riskli davranışların madde kullanımı ile ilişkisiAmaç: Genç yetişkinlik döneminde sıklıkla karşılaşılan riskli davranışların üniversite popülasyonundaki yaygınlığı ve madde kullanımı ile ilişkisinin değerlendirilmesi amaçlanmıştır. Yöntem: Kesitsel, web-tabanlı, öz bildirime dayalı çalışma, 53,003 öğrencisi olan bir devlet üniversitesinde gerçekleştirilmiştir. Örneklem sayısı için, Türkiye'deki üniversitelerde madde kullanımının en düşük prevelansına (%0.01-%0.6) göre güç analizi kullanılmıştır. Araştırma için 3,184 kişilik örneklem sayısı yeterli bulunmuştur. Bağımlılık Profil İndeksi Anketini tamamlayan 2,973 kişinin verileri değerlendirilmiştir. İstatistiksel analizlerde frekans testleri, Pearson ki-kare ve lojistik regresyon kullanılmıştır. Bulgular: Araştırmaya 1,629 (%54.8) kadın ve 1,344 (%45.2) erkek katıldı. Kadınlarda intihar planı ya da girişimi ve kendine zarar verme davranışı (KZVD); erkeklerde çakı, bıçak, tabanca gibi si...

Assessment of Risky Lifestyle Behaviour Among Undergraduate Students of a Tertiary Institution in Delta State, South-South, Nigeria

“…Generally, young persons are vulnerable to potentially harmful activities because of a high propensity to be involved in risky health behaviors [4]. Such behaviors include use of tobacco and other illicit psychoactive substances, excessive use of alcohol, poor dietary pattern, physical inactivity, lack of sufficient sleep, and unprotected sexual activity [5][6][7]. The World health organization states that 60% of a person's quality of health depends on behavior and lifestyle [8].…”