title: Gender differences in risk behaviors among high school youth.
abstract: The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) demonstrates that American youth engage in a wide variety of risky behaviors.(1) The frequency and type of these behaviors often differ by a number of factors, such as socioeconomic status, race, and ethnicity. For example, results of the 2011 YRBSS revealed that white high school students were most likely to have texted or e-mailed while driving or been bullied on school property, while black high school students were most likely to have engaged in risky sexual behaviors, to have been physically inactive, and to be obese.(1) Conversely, Hispanic high school students were most likely to have ridden with a driver who had been drinking alcohol; to have ever used cocaine, inhalants, or ecstasy; and to have failed to use protection to prevent pregnancy during last sexual intercourse.(1) However, it is difficult to discern whether differences in risk-taking behaviors between and among ethnic groups can actually be attributed to differences in group norms, socioeconomic status, or cultural beliefs regarding acceptance or rejection of such behaviors,(1) suggesting a need for more comprehensive regional investigations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, United States.
authors.forename: Sharon A Petronella
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Croisant
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, United States.
authors.forename: Tabassum
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Haque Laz
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, United States.
authors.forename: Mahbubur
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rahman
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, United States.
authors.forename: Abbey B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Berenson
keywords: Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS); gender; risk behaviors; youth