15 Risk Taking Behaviors

Percent of youth reporting each of 15 risk-taking behaviors, comparison by survey year.

        Survey Year
Category   Definition   2004 2006 2008
Sexual Intercourse   Has had sexual intercourse one or more times   35% 32%  
Anti-Social Behavior   Shoplifted once or more in the last 12 months   23% 24%  
  Committed vandalism once or more in the last 12 months   17% 17%  
  Got into trouble with police once or more in the last 12 months   22% 22%  
Violence   Hit someone once or more in the last 12 months   33% 33%  
  Physically hurt someone once or more in the last 12 months   12% 12%  
  Used a weapon to get something from a person once or more in the last 12 months   3% 2%  
  Been in a group fight once or more in the last 12 months   18% 17%  
  Carried a weapon for protection once or more in the last 12 months   10% 12%  
  Threatened physical harm to someone once or more in the last 12 months   30% 29%  
School Truancy   Skipped school once or more in the last four months   19% 15%  
Gambling   Gambled once or more in the last 12 months   35% 32%  
Eating Disorder   Has engaged in bulimic or anorexic behavior   15% 14%  
Depression   Felt sad or depressed most or all of the time in the last month   17% 15%  
Attempted Suicide   Has attempted suicide one or more times   18% 14%  


From Developmental Assets: A Profile of Your Youth for Great Lakes Center for Youth Development © [2004, 2006] by Search Institute, Minneapolis, MN. Data collected with the survey Search Institute Profiles of Student Life: Attitudes and Behaviors, Copyright © 1996, Search Institute, Minneapolis, MN.


Copyright©2003 by the Great Lakes Center for Youth Development except where noted
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