EXAMINATION OF RISKY HEALTH BEHAVIOURS AND AFFECTING FACTORS OF COLLEGE STUDENTS

Objective: The objective of this descriptive study is to examination of risky health behaviors and affecting factors among junior college students. Methods: The study was conducted between 23/03/2016 and 11/04/2016 among 210 students who were still registered for their junior year in Vocational School of Health Sciences or Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences (FEAS) in Selçuk University. The questionnaire used consists of 2 parts. In the first part, sociodemographic characteristics of the students, and the questions about risky behaviors are included in the second part. The data were evaluated by using SPSS 17.0 package program. In addition to number and percentage calculations, Mann Whitney U Test, Kruskal Wallis Test and Chi-Square Test were used. Results: Ages of the junior students who participated in the research varied between 18 and 24 with the mean 19.56±1.27. 52.5% of the participants were registered in FEAS and 62.9% of the participants were female students. It was found that alcohol, drug, sheesha consumption and smoking depended on the sex and department of the students, more than half of FEAS students skipped lunch, while skipping a meal depended on the department. Majority of the Health Sciences students and female students were not drivers and the habit of exceeding speed limit while driving was depended on the department and sex. Conclusion: There are risky health behaviors among students and their rates vary according to schools and gender. By arranging collaboration among universities, increasing activities which university youth can actively engage in the organization and sustainment of, and conducting volunteer and club activities can directly affect the increase in awareness and consciousness of college students.