RISKY

BEHAVIOR
OF ADOLESCENTS
• Risk-taking is a normal part of adolescent development.
• It is defined as participation in potentially health-compromising
activities with little understanding of, or in spite of an understanding
of, the possible negative consequences.

• Adolescence is a time of growth, exploration, and increase

independence.
• However, it is also a period when adolescents may engage in risky
behaviors.
• This presentation aims to help understand, identify, and prevent risky
behaviors among adolescents.
COMMON RISKY
BEHAVIOR

1. SUBSTANCE ABUSE
- SUBSTANCE
ABUSE REFERS TO
THE HARMFUL OR
EXCESSIVE USE OF
SUBSTANCES, SUCH
AS ALCOHOL, DRUGS
AND CIGARETTES.
COMMON RISKY
BEHAVIOR

2. UNSAFE SEXUAL BEHAVIOR

- IT REFERS TO
ENGAGING IN SEXUAL
ACTIVITIES WITHOUT TAKING
APPROPRIATE PRECAUTIONS
TO PREVENT SEXUALLY
TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS OR
UNINTENDED PREGNANCIES.
THIS CAN INCLUDE HAVING
UNPROTECTED SEX, HAVING
MULTIPLE SEXUAL PARTNERS
WITHOUT USING BARRIERS
LIKE CONDOMS, OR ENGAGING
IN RISKY SEXUAL PRACTICES.
COMMON RISKY
BEHAVIOR
3. RECKLESS DRIVING
- IT INVOLVES
OPERATING A VEHICLE IN A
DANGEROUS AND
IRRESPONSIBLE MANNER
THAT PUTS ONESELF AND
OTHERS AT RISK. IT
INCLUDE BEHAVIOR SUCH
AS SPEEDING, DISTRACTED
DRIVING (TEXTING WHILE
DRIVING) DRIVING UNDER
THE INFLUENCE OF
ALCOHOL, OR
DISREGARDING TRAFFIC
RULES AND REGULATIONS.
COMMON RISKY
BEHAVIOR

4. SELF-HARM
- IT REFERS TO A
DELIBERATE AND
INTENTIONAL ACTS OF
SELF INJURY OR SELF-
INFLICTED HARM. IT CAN
MANIFEST AS CUTTING,
BURNING, SCRATCHING,
HITTING ONESELF, OR
ENGAGING IN OTHER
BEHAVIORS THAT CAUSE
PHYSICAL HARM.
COMMON RISKY
BEHAVIOR

5. CYBERBULLYING
- IT INVOLVES USING
ELECTRONIC
COMMUNICATION
PLATFORMS, SUCH AS SOCIAL
MEDIA, TEXT MESSAGES, OR
EMAILS, TO HARASS,
INTIMATE, OR HARM OTHERS.
IT CAN INCLUDE SPREADING
RUMORS, MAKING
DEROGATORY COMMENTS,
SHARING EMBARRASSING OR
PRIVATE INFORMATION. OR
ENGAGING N ONLINE
HARASSMENT OR THREATS.
UNDERSTANDING RISKY BEHAVIOR
1. PEER PRESSURE
- ADOLESCENTS ARE HIGHLY INFLUENCED BY THEIR PEERS AND MAY ENGAGE IN RISKY
BEHAVIORS TO FIT IN OR GAIN ACCEPTANCE WITHIN THEIR SOCIAL GROUPS.

2. DESIRE FOR INDEPENDENCE

- ADOLESCENTS ARE IN A STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT WHERE THEY SEEK AUTONOMY AND
INDEPENDENCE FROM PARENTAL OR ADULT AUTHORITY.

3. LACK OF KNOWLEDGE OR AWARENESS

- LIMITED KNOWLEDGE OR UNDERSTANDING OF THE POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES AND RISKS
ASSOCIATED WITH CERTAIN BEHAVIORS CAN CONTRIBUTE TO ENGAGING IN RISKY ACTIONS.

4. EMOTIONAL OR PSYCHOLOGICAL CHALLENGES

- ADOLESCENCE IS A PERIOD CHARACTERIZED BY EMOTIONAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL
CHANGES, AND SOME INDIVIDUALS MAY STRUGGLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, SUCH AS
DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, OR LOW SELF-ESTEEM.
TROUBLE SIGNS THAT CAN LEAD TO RISKY
BEHAVIOR:
- SUDDEN CHANGES IN BEHAVIOR, MOOD OR
APPEARANCE
- DECLINE IN ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE
- WITHDRAWAL FROM FAMILY AND FRIENDS
- INCREASED SECRECY AND LYING
- UNEXPLAINED PHYSICAL INJURIES AND MARKS
COMPLICATIONS OF RISKY BEHAVIOR

• ADOLESCENTS ENGAGING IN RISKY BEHAVIOR MAY

FACE THE FOLLOWING COMPLICATIONS:
- PHYSICAL HEALTH ISSUES
- MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS
- LEGAL CONSEQUENCES
- RELATIONSHIP PROBLEMS
-ACADEMIC DIFFICULTIES
PREVENTING RISKY BEHAVIOR
1. EDUCATION AND AWARENESS
- COMPREHENSIVE SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND SEX EDUCATION PROGRAM
- MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS
- ANTI-BULLYING AND CYBERBULLYING PREVENTION INITIATIVES

2. OPEN COMMUNICATION
- ENCOURAGE OPEN DIALOGUE BETWEEN ADOLESCENTS AND TRUSTED ADULTS
- FOSTER A SUPPORTIVE AND NON-JUDGEMENTAL ENVIRONMENT
- ACTIVE LISTEN AND VALIDATE THEIR FEELINGS AND EXPERIENCES

3. BUILDING RESILIENCE
- PROMOTE POSITIVE COPING MECHANISMS AND STRESS
- ENHANCE SELF-ESTEEM AND SELF-CONFIDENCE
- FOSTER HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS AND SOCIAL SUPPORT NETWORKS
PREVENTING RISKY BEHAVIOR

4. SETTING BOUNDARIES
- ESTABLISH CLEAR RULES AND EXPECTATIONS
- ENFORCE CONSEQUENCES FOR BREAKING RULES
- MONITOR AND SUPERVISE ACTIVITIES, BOTH ONLINE AND OFFLINE

5. PROVIDING SUPPORT
- ACCESSIBLE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
- PEER SUPPORT GROUPS OR MENTORING PROGRAMS
- COMMUNITY RESOURCES FOR SKIIL-BUILDING AND POSITIVE ENGAGEMENT
 THE DEVELOPING
ADOLESCENT IS VERY
WHATEVER PROBLEM
VULNERABLE TO HIGH-
THAT YOU ARE FACING,
RISK TAKING
THERE ARE PEOPLE
BEHAVIORS THAT CAN
AVAILABLE TO HELP
HARM THEIT GROWTH
YOU.
AND POSE A THREAT TO
THEIR FUTURE.

BY IMPLEMENTING
PREVENTIVE
IDENTIFYING TROUBLE STRATEGIES, WE CAN
SIGNS ALLOWS EARLY EMPOWER
INTERVENTION AND ADOLESCENTS TO MAKE
SUPPORT. HEALTHIER CHOICES
AND LEAD FULFILLING
LIVES.
THANK
YOU!