Security and violence: Young people’s risk behaviours profile

Abstract

INTRODUCTION. The risk behaviours, safety and violence of young people have been a major concern for societies. Health promotion focused on the importance of a safe environment and the implications that come from incorrect behaviours at this stage of life in which building autonomy is critical. OBJECTIVES. To identify individual health measures adopted by adolescents/youngsters in this case and violence situations to which they are commonly exposed; to determine the level of the risk behaviour; to explore the connections between risk behaviours, school year, and gender. METHOD. A quantitative, correlational and transversal study was conducted. A selfadministered questionnaire it was deliver to participants. The sample comprised 1614 young people, of the municipality of Vila Nova de Famalicão, and attending the academic year of 2013/2014. RESULTS. The average age of respondents was 17 years old and the majority were female, attended the secondary school and perceived their family as highly functional. The use of a protection helmet was more frequent when riding a motorcycle than riding a bicycle. The majority of participants reported the regular use of the seatbelt and did not drive nor accompanied a person driving under the in+uence of alcohol. Most of the respondents have not been involved in situations of violence. The majority showed low levels of risk behaviours. CONCLUSION. These study participants reported a positive image of the risk behaviours. Notwithstanding, young people would still highly bene't from the development of multidisciplinary and innovative interventions leading to the acquisition of a healthy and responsible lifestyle.