Risk-taking behaviour of Cape Peninsula high-school students. Part X. Multivariate relationships among behaviours.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship between adolescent risk behaviours, taking into account their influence upon one another.


METHODS
Cross-sectional survey utilising a self-completed questionnaire; stepwise logistic regression analyses were carried out, stratified for gender.


METHODS
High schools in the Cape Peninsula, South Africa


METHODS
7,340 students from 16 schools in the three major education departments.


METHODS
The outcome variables for each regression model were: cigarette smoking, cannabis smoking, alcohol bingeing, sexual intercourse, knife-carrying at school, walking home at night from beyond the neighbourhood, attempting suicide, and failure to use a seat belt. For each model, 26 risk behaviours served as independent variables.


RESULTS
For each model, between 3 and 9 variables qualified for inclusion for each gender. There was a substantial association between many forms of substance abuse. In the previous 12 months, suicidal thoughts or statements of suicidal intent were predictors of a suicide attempt. Several variables involving injury were predictors of exposure to danger in getting home at night, and this was a predictor of substance abuse. Cannabis smoking, alcohol bingeing and exposure to danger in getting home at night were predictors of and were predicted by having had sexual intercourse.


CONCLUSIONS
There are significant relationships between many adolescent risk behaviours, even when the influence of other risk behaviours is taken into account. The probability of adverse sequelae of risk behaviours, such as exposure to danger in getting home at night and sexual intercourse, is increased by the presence of selected other risk behaviours.
Flisher
A J
AJ
Department of Psychiatry, University of Cape Town, W. Cape.
Ziervogel
C F
CF
Chalton
D O
DO
Leger
P H
PH
Robertson
B A
BA
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012309:Risk-Taking; D013019:South Africa; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires