Health risk behaviors among non-college and college youth: an inte-grative review

Abstract

Introduction: Health risk behaviors, such as physical inactivity, poor dietary habits, and substance use, are concerns in public health, especially among young individuals. Objective: To assess and describe such behaviors among young people and college students, as well as their implications for public health and prevention. Methodology: We conducted an integrative literature review, including articles in Portuguese, English, and Spanish from the CAPES, LILACS, PubMed, and SciELO databases. Using the following descriptors: health risk behaviors, college students, health risk, traffic accidents, and young people. The search was conducted between February and August 2020. Out of 170 articles found, 21 were selected based on predefined criteria. The majority of studies (80.5%) addressed different health risk behaviors, while 19.5% focused solely on behaviors related to traffic safety. Conclusions: Health risk behaviors are associated with social, economic, and familial factors, often being practiced simultaneously, highlighting the importance of comprehensive preventive interventions.