Risky Behaviors and Sensation-Seeking in Adolescence: A Descriptive Correlational Study

ABSTRACT

Risky behaviors are common in developing countries, especially in adolescence. Moreover, sensation seeking is an important factor in personality. This study was conducted to evaluate the relationship between risky behaviors and sensation-seeking in a sample of Iranian adolescents. This study used a cross-sectional method with 400 high school adolescents (age between 15 and 21 years old) in Kashan city from multistage random sampling. The research instrument consisted of three parts: a socio-demographic questionnaire, the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) and the Zuckerman Sensation-Seeking Scale-V (SSS-V). Data analysis was performed using the t-test, ANOVA, chi-square, regression and Spearman correlation coefficient in SPSS v 11.5. Risky behaviors were found in 51.2% of students, and a significant difference was found between the male and female students in this regard (p < .021). The overall sensation-seeking score and the scores in the dimensions of experience seeking, disinhibition, and boredom susceptibility were higher in males than females (p < .0001). All dimensions of sensation-seeking other than disinhibition dimension could significantly predict risky behavior. Sensation seeking can be used as an indicator for screening risky behaviors. Detailed planning on the part of the health care system and public authorities is recommended for appropriate screening and counseling adolescents with risky behaviors.

KEYWORDS:

• Risk behavior
• sensation
• adolescence
• Iran

Acknowledgments

The authors are deeply thankful for the cooperation of Kashan’s education department and all the students and high school authorities who cooperated and participated in this study. This study was not possible without their cooperation.

Declaration of conflicting interests

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the research fund of the Kashan University of Medical Sciences, no. 9192.