Risk behaviors and health conditions among school adolescents: gender differences

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DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46551/ruc.v27n1a10

Abstract

Objective: To verify risk behaviors and health conditions in relation to sex among school adolescents. Method: This is an epidemiological, cross-sectional and analytical study carried out with adolescents attending the first year of high school in the state public school system in the city of Montes Claros-MG. Data was collected in 2022 and 2023 using a self-administered questionnaire.  The variables covered were risk behaviors and health conditions associated with gender. Descriptive and bivariate analyses were used. Results: 1,616 adolescents from 20 schools took part in the study. Among them, 50.4% were female, 25.2% were enrolled in full-time education, 64.0% were up to 15 years old and 59.3% considered their skin color to be brown. Girls showed a higher prevalence of risk behaviors and compromised health conditions, while boys showed greater body dissatisfaction in relation to thinness. Conclusion: The results revealed that there were significant differences between risk behaviors and health conditions in relation to sex, indicating higher prevalence of risk behaviors and worse health conditions among girls, when compared to boys.

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Author Biographies

João Victor Ferreira Santos, Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros - UNIMONTES

Graduando em Educação Física Bacharelado pela Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros (UNIMONTES).

Maria Fernanda Santos Figueiredo Brito, Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros - UNIMONTES

Professora da Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros (UNIMONTES), Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Programa de Pós-graduação em Cuidado Primário em Saúde.

Lucinéia de Pinho, Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros - UNIMONTES

Professora da Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros (UNIMONTES), Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Programa de Pós-graduação em Cuidado Primário em Saúde.

Rosângela Ramos Veloso Silva, Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros - UNIMONTES

Professora da Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros (UNIMONTES), Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Programa de Pós-graduação em Cuidado Primário em Saúde.

Nayra Suze Souza e Silva, Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros - Unimontes

Professora da Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros (UNIMONTES), Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Departamento de Educação Física e do Desporto.

Published

2025-06-03

How to Cite

SANTOS, João Victor Ferreira; BRITO, Maria Fernanda Santos Figueiredo; PINHO, Lucinéia de; SILVA, Rosângela Ramos Veloso; SOUZA E SILVA, Nayra Suze. Risk behaviors and health conditions among school adolescents: gender differences. Revista Unimontes Científica, [S. l.], v. 27, n. 1, 2025. DOI: 10.46551/ruc.v27n1a10. Disponível em: https://www.periodicos.unimontes.br/index.php/unicientifica/article/view/8453. Acesso em: 9 jul. 2025.

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