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Changes in Risk-Taking Behaviors during the First Year of College in the Northwestern Iran: A Latent Transition Analysis.
- Source :
-
Journal of research in health sciences [J Res Health Sci] 2019 Oct 21; Vol. 19 (4), pp. e00460. Date of Electronic Publication: 2019 Oct 21. - Publication Year :
- 2019
-
Abstract
- Background: First year of university is a critical life transition period with an increased probability of taking risky behaviors. We aimed to examine the transitions in risky behaviors in the first year of college in the northwestern Iran using latent transition analysis (LTA).<br />Study Design: A longitudinal study.<br />Methods: A random sample of 1406 freshmen enrolled in three universities in Tabriz City (the capital city of East Azerbaijan Province, northwestern Iran) were evaluated twice in November 2014 and 2015. A multiple-choice self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data on risky behaviors and demographic characteristics of students. LTA was performed to examine the prevalence and changes in risky behaviors (cigarette and hookah smoking, illicit drug use, alcohol consumption and risky sexual behaviors) among the students.<br />Results: The LTA model revealed four interpretable statuses. The prevalence data showed that 77.1%, 12.3%, 8.3% and 2.3% of students were "risk-free", "tobacco user", "sexual risk-taker" and "multiple risk-tacker", respectively in the first assessment. Over the period of one year, 4.2% and 6.1% of risk-free students became tobacco user and sexual risk-takers, respectively, and 22.4% of tobacco user students, transfer to the multiple risk-taker group.<br />Conclusion: The prevalence of risk-taking behaviors increased during the freshman year. Tobacco smoking was  predispose acquiring more risky behaviors. Probability of transition to the multiple risk-taker group was higher among tobacco users.
- Subjects :
- Adolescent
Azerbaijan epidemiology
Female
Humans
Iran
Latent Class Analysis
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Prevalence
Students psychology
Surveys and Questionnaires
Universities
Young Adult
Alcohol Drinking epidemiology
Risk-Taking
Sexual Behavior statistics & numerical data
Smoking epidemiology
Students statistics & numerical data
Substance-Related Disorders epidemiology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 2228-7809
- Volume :
- 19
- Issue :
- 4
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Journal of research in health sciences
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 32291359