Multiple-risk behaviour in adolescents and young adults.

OBJECTIVES This article examines the prevalence of four risk behaviours among teenagers and young adults: smoking, binge drinking, sex with multiple partners, and sex without a condom. DATA SOURCE The data are from a Health Canada-sponsored supplement to the 1994/95 National Population Health Survey. The analysis is based on 905 respondents aged 15 to 19 and 1,055 respondents aged 20 to 24. ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES Prevalence estimates of the four risk behaviours were calculated for males and females in each age group. An index of multiple-risk behaviour was derived by summing the four risk behaviours. Hierarchical multiple regression was used to examine how sets of variables are related to multiple-risk behaviour. MAIN RESULTS Multiple-risk behaviour was higher among young people who had never married, who were not students, and who did not live with a parent. Feeling distressed was positively linked with multiple-risk behaviour, while regular attendance at religious services was negatively linked with such conduct.