Derivation of some contemporary scales to measure adolescent risk-taking in Canada

OBJECTIVES: To derive a contemporary series of composite indicators of adolescent risk-taking, inspired by the US CDC Framework and Problem Behaviour Theory. METHODS: Factor analyses were performed on 28-risk behaviours in a nationally representative sample of 30,096 Grades 6–10 students from the 2014 Canadian Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study. RESULTS: Three composite indicators emerged from our analysis: (1) Overt Risk-Taking (i.e., substance use, caffeinated energy drink consumption, fighting, and risky sexual behaviour), (2) Aversion to a Healthy Lifestyle (i.e., physical inactivity and low fruit and vegetable consumption), and (3) Screen Time Syndrome (i.e., abnormally high screen time use combined with unhealthy snacking). These three composite indicators of risk-taking were observed consistently with strong psychometric properties across different grade groups (6–8, 9–10). CONCLUSIONS: The three composite indicators of adolescent risk-taking each draw from multiple domains within the CDC framework, and support a novel, empirically directed approach of conceptualizing multiple risk behaviours among adolescents. The measures also highlight the breadth and diversity of risk behaviour engagement among Canadian adolescents. Research and preventive interventions should simultaneously consider the related behaviours within each of these composite indicators.