Sima Afrashteh1, Haleh Ghaem2, Abbas Abbasi-Ghahramanloo3, Hamid Reaz Tabatabaee4. 1. Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran Vice-Chancellor for Public Health, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran. 2. Research Center for Health Sciences, Institute of Health, Department of Epidemiology, School of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. ghaemh@sums.ac.ir. 3. Department of Public Health, School of Health, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 4. Research Center for Health Sciences, Institute of Health, Department of Epidemiology, School of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: High-risk behaviors are increasing among young adults worldwide. We aimed to identify university students' subgroups on the basis of high-risk behaviors and to assess the role of age, living alone, religious beliefs, and parental support in the membership of specific subgroups. STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional study METHODS: The study was conducted in Bushehr (south of Iran) from November to December 2016. The sample included 977 university students selected through random sampling. The data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Then, latent class analysis was used to classify the students. RESULTS: Totally, five latent classes were identified as follows: low risk, high risk, somewhat low risk, hookah user, and very high risk. Notably, 7.7% and 2.5% of the students belonged to high risk and very high risk classes, respectively. The results suggested the protective effect of familial support and religiosity on high-risk behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicated the co-occurrence of high-risk behaviors. The findings can be used to plan and evaluate interventions by considering risk factors and protective factors in universities.
BACKGROUND: High-risk behaviors are increasing among young adults worldwide. We aimed to identify university students' subgroups on the basis of high-risk behaviors and to assess the role of age, living alone, religious beliefs, and parental support in the membership of specific subgroups. STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional study METHODS: The study was conducted in Bushehr (south of Iran) from November to December 2016. The sample included 977 university students selected through random sampling. The data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Then, latent class analysis was used to classify the students. RESULTS: Totally, five latent classes were identified as follows: low risk, high risk, somewhat low risk, hookah user, and very high risk. Notably, 7.7% and 2.5% of the students belonged to high risk and very high risk classes, respectively. The results suggested the protective effect of familial support and religiosity on high-risk behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicated the co-occurrence of high-risk behaviors. The findings can be used to plan and evaluate interventions by considering risk factors and protective factors in universities.
Keywords:
High-risk behaviors; Iran; Latent class analysis; Subgrouping