Prevalence of risk behaviors in young university students

Cross-sectional study carried out with 210 university students aged between 18 and 24. The applied research instrument was a validated questionnaire called National College Health Risk Behavior Survey. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, bivariate analysis and logistic regression.

Results

Among the studied individuals, 40% ingested alcohol, 25% were overweight, 19% used motorcycles as a means of transportation, and 6% reported suicide attempts. Alcohol consumption, overweight and practicing sports were associated with men. Suicide attempts and healthier eating habits were associated with women.

Conclusion

Participants adopted behaviors that risked their health status, being such attitude more frequently observed among men. Alcohol consumption was the most prevalent risk behavior in this population.

Prevalence; Risk-taking; Universities; Young adult; Ethics

Risk behavior	Total n(%)	Gênero		p-value	Odds ratio^*	Self-declared skin color/ethnic group			p-value	Odds ratio^**
Risk behavior	Total n(%)	Male n(%)	Female n(%)	p-value	Odds ratio^*	White n(%)	Black n(%)	Indigenous n(%)	p-value	Odds ratio^**
Traffic
Passenger did not make use of seat belt	9(4.3)	4(4.9)	5(3.9)	0.740	1.251	5(4.1)	3(4.8)	1(5.3)	1.000	1.210
Driver did not make use of seat belt	4(2)	2(2.4)	1(1.6)	0.644	1.575	3(2.4)	1(1.6)	-(0.0)	1.000	0.498
Use of motorcycle	29(19.1)	16(27.6)	13(13.8)	0.055	2.374	16(19.0)	8(16.3)	5(33.3)	0.342	1.083
Use of motorcycle without the protection of a helmet	7(3.3)	4(4.9)	3(2.3)	0.089	2.137	5(4.0)	2(3.2)	- (0.0)	0.876	0.595
Self-aggression or aggression against others
Bearing of weapons	9(4.3)	2(2.4)	7(5.5)	0.487	0.429	7(5.7)	- (0.0)	2(10.5)	0.094	0.414
Involvement in fights	4(1.9)	- (0.0)	4(3.2)	0.155	-	3(2.4)	1(1.6)	-(0.0)	1.000	0.500
Suicide attempts	1(6.2)	1(1.2)	12(9.4)	0.018	0.118	7(5.7)	5(7.9)	1(5.3)	0.906	1.308
Consumption of substances
Habitual consumption of cigarettes	5(2.5)	3(3.8)	2(1.6)	0.383	2.368	2(1.6)	2(3.3)	1(6.2)	0.447	2.466
Consumption of marijuana	4(2.0)	1(1.2)	3(2.4)	1.000	0.515	3(2.4)	1(1.6)	-(0.0)	1.000	0.513
Risky consumption of alcohol	82(40.0)	42(51.9)	42(32.3)	0.006	2.262	49(40.8)	24(38.1)	8(44.4)	0.859	0.946
Consumption of inhalants	8(7.8)	8(10.1)	8(6.3)	0.423	1.678	11(8.9)	1(1.6)	4(22.2)	0.014	0.688

Health behaviors	Total n (%)	Gender		p-value	Odds ratio^*	Self-declared skin-color/ethnic group			p-value	Odds ratio^**
Health behaviors	Total n (%)	Male n (%)	Female n (%)	p-value	Odds ratio^*	White n (%)	Black n (%)	Indígenous n (%)	p-value	Odds ratio^**
Body mass index
<25	136(64.7)	45(33)	91(66.9)	0.001	1.689	84(61.7)	40(29.4)	12(8.8)	0.339	1.114
≥25	53(28)	32(60.3)	21(39.6)	0.001	1.689	27(54)	16(32)	7(14)	0.339	1.114
Self-perception of body weight
Way below weight	11(5.3)	1(1.25)	10(7.8)	0.18	0.650	7(5.6)	2(3.1)	1(5.2)	0.219	1.022
Slightly below weight	14(6.7)	9(11.2)	5(3.9)			10(8)	2(3.1)	1(5.2)
Right weight	120(57.9)	40(50)	80(62.9)			73(58.8)	41(65)	11(57.8)
Slightly above weight	54(26.0)	26(32.5)	28(22.8)			31(25)	16(25.3)	4(21)
Way above weight	8(3.8)	4 (5)	4(3.1)			3 (2.4)	2(3.1)	2(10.5)
Attempts to cause the body to
Lose weight	87(42.4)	33(42.3)	54(42.5)	0.313	1.35	55(44.3)	30(47.6)	12(63)	0.523	1.004
Gain weight	43(20.9)	21(26.9)	22(17.3)			28(22.5)	11(17.4)	2(10.5)
Maintain the same weight	44(21.4)	13(16.6)	31(24.4)			23(18.5)	13(20.6)	2(10.5)
Not attempting anything	31(151)	11(14.1)	20(15.7)			18(14.5)	9(14.2)	3(15.7)
Weight control
Diet to lose or maintain weight	83.(39.9)	25(31.2)	58(45.3)	0.44	0.795	42(33.8)	28(44.4)	8.(42.1)	0.166	1.179
Provoked vomit or use of laxatives	16(7.7)	2(2.5)	14(10.9)	0.031	0.206	7(5.6)	4(6.5)	4(21.1)	0.020	1.832
Diet pill	18(8.6)	7(8.6)	11(8.6)	1.000	1.006	10(8.1)	5(8.1)	2(10.5)	0.934	1.078
Physical exercises to lose or maintain weight	82(39.4)	36(43.9)	46(36.5)	0.313	1.305	47(37.9)	24(38)	9(4.3)	0.267	1.039
Sports activities
Participated in sports activities in the previous 7 days	103(49)	56(68.2)	47(36.7)	0.001	1.996	57(45.9)	38(60.3)	10(52.6)	0.300	1.303
Walked or used a bike for at least 30-60 minutes in the previous 7 days	100(47.6)	44(53.6)	56(43.7)	0.161	1.214	64(51.6)	28(44.4)	12(63.1)	0.386	0.945
Eating habits
Ate fruits or drank fruit juice (yesterday, yes, between 1-3 times)	168(80)	58(70.7)	110(85.9)	0.007	0.480	95(76.6)	53(84.1)	16(84.2)	0.388	1.475
Ate green salad (yesterday)	147(70)	52(63.4)	95(74.2)	0.096	0.705	82(66.6)	49(77.7)	15(78.9)	0.504	1.543
Ate boiled vegetables (yesterday)	134(63.8)	46(56)	88(68.7)	0.063	0.712	78.(62.9)	39(61.9)	15(78.9)	0.504	1.086

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E-mail: actapaulista@unifesp.br

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[1] Corresponding author
: Yone de Oliveira Faria. Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, unnumbered, Brasília, DF, Brazil. Zip Code: 70910-900. yone.oliveira@aluno.unb.br