Objective: Risky behaviors which are common in adolescence are formed as a result of interaction between biological/genetic/personality characteristics of adolescents and environmental factors. The aim of this study was to evaluate the factors associated with risky behaviors and delinquency among high school students.
Methods: A questionnaire designed by researchers and the Delinquent Behavior Scale developed by Kaner were administered to senior high school students in their classrooms.
Results: It was found that the first three common delinquent behaviors were related to school. Male students who have repeated a grade, vocational high school male students and male and female students who have lower school scores reported more tendencies to have delinquent behaviors. Among male and female students, higher educational level of the father and lower number of children in the family and among girls, higher educational level of the mother and higher household income were found to be as familial factors related to delinquent behaviors. Delinquent behaviors of high school students were found to be associated with the problem behaviors of friends and parents. It was found that delinquent behaviors were more common among male students and risk behaviors were related to each other.
Conclusion: Risk behaviors may negatively influence the psychosocial development of adolescents. Individual and familial factors related to risk behaviors which were found in our study may be helpful in developing effective education and prevention programs. (Anatolian Journal of Psychiatry 2007; 8:186-196)