Citation

Patrick K, Covin JR, Fulop M, Calfas K, Lovato C. J. Am. Coll. Health 1997; 45(6): 265-272.

Affiliation

California College Health 2000 (CCH 2000), San Diego State University, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1997, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

9164056

Abstract

Health risk behaviors among students attending 4-year colleges in California were examined. The Youth Risk Behavior Survey for College Students was administered in a two-stage (29 universities, 5,652 students) random sample. All campuses and 3,810 (69%) students participated in the survey. In the 30 days preceding the survey, 36.7% of the students had binged at least once while drinking; 25.3% had driven after consuming alcohol; 32% had ridden in a car with someone who had been drinking; 17.6% had used marijuana; and 6% had carried a knife, gun, or club. More than half of the students who were sexually active and not married or living with a primary partner had not used a condom the last time they had sexual intercourse. Only 5% of regular bicycle riders always wore a helmet. Fewer than half (44%) reported aerobic physical activity on 3 or more of the preceding 7 days. The results of this study indicate a substantial amount of serious, risky health behaviors among California college students.