Investigation of factors affecting risky behaviors in university students: A cross-sectional field study

In this study, the aim was to examine the factors influencing risky behaviors in university students, such as depression, anxiety, loneliness, and various variables (gender, age, cigarette and alcohol use, number of siblings, upbringing region, living arrangements). The population and sample of the study consisted of 351 university students, aged between 18 and 25, who were studying at universities in Istanbul, including 104 males and 247 females. Data were collected using the Beck Depression Scale, Beck Anxiety Scale, UCLA Loneliness Scale, and Risky Behaviors Scale University Form. The research findings revealed a significant relationship between the level of depression and tendency towards risky behaviors. Thus, depression has a predictive effect on the increase in risky behaviors. Additionally, a significant relationship was found between loneliness and risky behaviors, but it was inverse. In other words, an increase in the level of loneliness was associated with a decrease, not an increase, in the tendency towards risky behaviors. The research also found a significant relationship between anxiety and the tendency towards risky behaviors. As anxiety level increased, the level of risky behaviors also increased. Regarding the effects of the Beck Anxiety Scale, Beck Depression Scale, UCLA Loneliness Scale, and Risky Behaviors Scale on the demographic variables, it was concluded that the gender variable showed differences in anxiety level, but age, alcohol and cigarette use, number of siblings, living arrangements, upbringing region did not show any differences in anxiety level. Regarding the level of depression, it was found that the place of residence of the participants showed differences, but gender, alcohol and cigarette use, living arrangements, upbringing region, number of siblings did not show any differences in depression level. In terms of the tendency towards risky behaviors, gender and upbringing region variables showed differences, but the place of residence, number of siblings, alcohol and cigarette use, age, and living arrangements did not show any differences. Finally, none of the demographic variables in the survey form were found to have an effect on the level of loneliness