Background High-risk behaviors are among the most serious threats for the physical and mental health of adolescents and young adults. Our aims in this study were to investigate the subgroups of students based on risky behaviors and to identify the prevalence rate of these subgroups. Methods This cross-sectional web-based survey was conducted from July to August 2019 in Tabriz, Iran. We performed proportional sampling in all nine universities of the city, according to the number of students in each university. Applying an online survey questionnaire, the data were collected from 3649 students and analyzed using Latent Class Analysis. Results For total sample, standardized prevalence rates of cigarette smoking, hookah use, alcohol consumption, substance abuse and unsafe sex were 18.5 (Confidence Interval (CI) 95%: 17.3–19.8), 9.1 (CI 95%: 8.2–10.1), 9.2 (CI 95%: 8.3–10.2), 8.3 (CI 95%: 7.4–9.3) and 14.5 (CI 95%: 13.3–15.7), respectively. Three latent classes of risky behaviors were determined among students: a) low risk b) smoking and c) high risk. About 18% of boys and 1.5% of girls were in the high risk class. Cigarette smoking (18.5%, CI 95%: 17.3–19.8) and substance abuse (8.3%, CI 95%: 7.4–9.3) were the most and the least common risky behaviors among the students. Conclusion In this we-based survey, a considerable number of students, particularly boys (18%), was at high-risk class, stressing the need for preventive interventions for this group of youth. Our findings are beneficial for planning and development of risky-behavior preventive strategies to prevent high-risk behaviors among college students.

Background: Preventing smoking at an early age is one of the primary solutions to reduce the likelihood of becoming a smoker in adulthood. This study aimed to investigate the age of becoming a smoker and its related factors and to assess the change in the age trend of becoming a smoker among students in Iran.Methods: A cross-sectional web-based survey was performed from July to August 2019 in Tabriz, Iran. A proportional cluster sampling in all universities of the city was implemented, according to the number of students in each university. The data were collected from 3640 students via an online survey questionnaire. Data analyses were performed by using Stata (version 16). The statistical level of significance was set at 0.05. Results: The average (±SD) age of becoming a smoker in the students was 18.8 (6 2.6) years. The age of becoming a smoker has decreased over time. A linear regression model showed that male and undergraduate students become smokers 0.77 and 0.50 years earlier than other students, respectively (P <0.001). Older age, being single, and later smoking initiation increase the average age of becoming a smoker by 0.2 years, 0.77 years, and 0.54 years, respectively (P <0.001).Conclusion: The age of becoming a smoker has decreased over time. Prevention programs should target males and undergraduate students. Furthermore, since students have become smokers earlier than their peers in the past, there is a direct relationship between smoking initiation and the age of becoming a smoker.

Background :High-risk behaviors is one of the most serious factors threatening the physical and mental health of adolescents and young adults. The aims of this study were to investigate thesubgroups of students based on risky behaviors and to identify the prevalence rate of these subgroups. Methods: This cross-sectional web-based survey was conducted from July to August 2019 in Tabriz, Iran. Sampling of all universities in the city was performed proportionally according to the number of students in each university. . Applying an online survey questionnaire, the data were collected from 3649 students and included into Latent Class Analysis. Results: For both genders, standardized prevalence rates of cigarrette smoking, hookah use, alcohol consumption, substance abuse and unsafe sex were 18.5 (CI 95%: 17.3-19.8), 9.1 (CI 95%: 8.2-10.1), 9.2 (CI 95%: 8.3-10.2), 8.3 (CI 95%: 7.4-9.3) and 14.5 (CI 95%: 13.3-15.7), respectively. Three latent classes of risky behaviors were determined among students: 1) low risk 2) smoking and 3) high risk. About 18% of boys and 1.5% of girls were in the high risk class. Cigarrette smoking (18.5%, CI 95%: 17.3-19.8) and substance abuse (8.3%, CI 95%: 7.4-9.3) were the most and the least common risky behaviors among the students. Conclusion: In this we-based survey, a considerable percentage of students, particularly boys, were at high-risk class, stressing the need for preventive interventions for this group of youth. Our findings are beneficial for planning and development of risky-behavior preventive measures to prevent high-risk behaviors among college students.

Background. Smoking at a younger age puts people at greater risk for health damage. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the age of smoking onset and high-risk behaviors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, substance abuse, and high-risk sexual behavior among university students in Tabriz, Iran. Methods. This web-based, cross-sectional study was conducted in Tabriz, Iran, in 2019. A total of 3,649 students were included in the study according to the proportion of students in each university. The required information was collected through an online questionnaire. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the relationship between the age of smoking onset and high-risk behaviors. Results. The mean (standard deviation) age of the participants in the study was 22.85 (3.66) years old, and 55.7% were boys. The findings of the study indicate that students who initiated smoking at the age of 16 or younger exhibited higher likelihoods of alcohol consumption over the previous 30 days (OR= 1.77, CI 95%: 1.20 - 2.62) and participation in unsafe sexual practices (OR= 1.54, CI 95%: 1.06 - 2.26) compared to their non-smoking counterparts. Conclusion. Early smoking onset is associated with high-risk behaviors. The age of onset of smoking should be considered as one of the factors associated with high-risk behaviors, and smoking prevention programs should be started from adolescence.