The prevalence of high-risk behaviors in the second year of public high school students based on demographic variables: A cross-sectional study

This study aimed to assess the prevalence of high-risk behaviors among female second-year high school students, considering various demographic variables. The cross-sectional study was conducted in 2021 with a sample of 463 female students from public high schools in Ahvaz, selected through random sampling based on specific inclusion criteria. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire and the Iranian Adolescents' Risk Behavior Scale (IARS) and analyzed using SPSS version 22. Descriptive statistics were applied, including frequency distribution, percentages, means, standard deviations, and the non-parametric Mann-Whitney test. The results revealed that the prevalence of high-risk behaviors among second-year high school girls in Ahvaz was 79.15%. The most common high-risk behaviors were dangerous driving (14.92%) and drug use (13.13%). Additionally, the Mann-Whitney test showed a significant relationship between the presence of a counselor and drug use (P<0.05). Still, no significant relationships were found between risky behaviors and factors such as income (P>0.05), marital status (P>0.05), or parental divorce (P>0.05). Given the higher prevalence of dangerous driving and drug use among these students, the study emphasizes the need for psychological, educational, counseling, and therapeutic interventions. Prevention of high-risk behaviors is always more effective, less costly, and easier than treatment.