Adolescent risk behaviors: Studying typical and atypical individuals via multidimensional scaling profile analysis

Within the framework of problem behavior theory, the purpose of this study was to examine risk behavior profiles of typical and atypical adolescents and the differential outcomes of well-beings for these individuals in the United States. Based on the data from the survey of Health Behavior of School-Aged Children by World Health Organization, multidimensional scaling profile analysis was used to identify prototypical risk behavior profiles and atypical adolescents. Analyses suggested prototypicality of risk behavior patterns rather than a risk behavior syndrome. The regression analysis was then conducted to investigate the effects of atypical individuals vs. prototypical risk groups on well-being outcomes. The results indicated that those adolescents who were identified as more atypical than typical reported less positive psychological outcomes.