Risky Behaviour and Social Attitudes | findings

The study revealed that many young people participated in risky behaviours largely directed against themselves, such as smoking, drinking alcohol and playing truant from school, and that the proportion that did so increased from age 14 to 16.

Fewer also engaged in risky behaviours directly against others or property, such as graffitiing, vandalism, shoplifting or fighting, and they became less likely to engage in these behaviours as they grew older.

Young people who engage in risky behaviour directed against others or property also often engaged in risky behaviour directed against themselves. The same was not true the other way round.

Four in ten young people engaged in at least one of the seven risky behaviours directed against themselves, others or property at age 14. This increased to five in ten by age 16.

The proportion of young people who smoked, drank alcohol or played truant increased from two in ten at age 14 to five in ten at age 16.

In contrast, the proportion of young people who grafftied, vandalised public property, shoplifted or got involved in fights decreased from three in ten at age 14 to two in ten at age 16.

Participating in socialising activities, such as going out with friends, going to pubs or parties, often coincided with an increase in both types of risky behaviour. Participating less in these socialising activities, however, did not lead to less risky behaviour.

Participating in other types of social activities more concerned with personal and community development, such as community work, playing a musical instrument or reading, was associated with less risky behaviour, but did not typically lead to a reduction in that behaviour.

Engaging in risky behaviour and not participating in developmental activities were typically associated with lower GCSE results.

One in 20 16-year olds engaged in at least two risky behaviours directed against themselves and at least two risky behaviours directed against others or property.

They often shared negative attitudes towards school, had been bullied and reported poor relations with their parents. Many also lived in single-parent families.