Health risk behaviors among college youths: A cross-cultural comparison


Khallad Y.

Journal of Health Psychology, vol.15, no.6, pp.925-934, 2010 (SSCI) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 15 Issue: 6
  • Publication Date: 2010
  • Doi Number: 10.1177/1359105309359543
  • Journal Name: Journal of Health Psychology
  • Journal Indexes: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.925-934
  • Keywords: culture, gender, health risk behaviors, religiosity, socioeconomic status
  • Middle East Technical University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

The present study examined the frequency of smoking, seatbelt use, and vehicular speeding among American and Jordanian college students, and assessed the relationship between these risk behaviors and gender, socioeconomic status, and religiosity. Significantly more Jordanian students were smokers. Jordanian students were less likely than American students to buckle up, but American students were more likely to engage in vehicular speeding. Female students, especially among Jordanians, were less likely than male students to engage in risky behaviors. Among Jordanian participants, smoking and passenger seatbelt use were positively associated with indices of socioeconomic status, and smoking was negatively associated with religiosity. Copyright © 2010 SAGE Publications.