A BSTRACT Background: Adolescence is a period marked by heightened risk-taking, which can impact long-term health. Understanding the drivers in specific contexts like Kerala is crucial for targeted interventions. Objectives: This study aimed to (1) assess the prevalence and levels of risk-taking behavior among adolescents in selected schools of Thiruvananthapuram, and (2) determine the association between risk-taking behavior and selected sociodemographic variables (gender, academic performance, family type, etc.). Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 186 students from grades 9 and 11, selected through convenience sampling from two schools in the Attingal subdistrict. Data were collected using a socio-personal profile and Dr. Subhash Sarkar’s Risk-Taking Behavior Scale. Analysis involved descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests. Results: A majority (57.5%) of males exhibited high or above-average risk-taking behaviors compared to 21.9% of females ( P = 0.01). Adolescents with below-average academic scores showed a significantly higher propensity for risk-taking ( P < 0.01). No significant associations were found with family type, domicile, or other selected variables. Conclusion: Male gender and lower academic performance were significant factors associated with higher risk-taking behavior in this sample. These findings highlight the need for targeted, gender-sensitive school-based interventions, although the limited sampling frame cautions against broad generalization.
Krishna et al. (2025) studied this question.