A Systematic Review of Risky Behaviors in Adolescence and its Related Factors: Evidence from Iran

Background: Adolescence is one of the most challenging, stressful, attractive, and at the same time, problematic periods of life for adolescents and their parents, teachers, and health providers. The present study aims to evaluate the tendency to high-risk behaviors and its related factors associated with adolescent risk behaviors among Iranian adolescents.Materials and Methods: In this systematic review, online databases (Medline, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, CIVILICA, and Google Scholar search engine) were reviewed with no time limit up to July ۲۰۲۲. Two reviewers evaluated the quality of eligible studies and carried out the selection procedure. The quality of the data was evaluated using the STROBE guidelines.Results: Finally, ۱۹ studies were selected. The prevalence of high-risk behaviors in adolescents was ۶۳.۱% (range: ۵.۴-۶۳.۱%). The selected studies highlighted five forms of high-risk behaviors: hookah smoking (۶.۹-۵۹%), cigarette smoking (۱۰.۹-۴۴.۱%), substance abuse (۱.۸-۳۱.۱%), sexual risk behaviors (۱۴.۵-۴۱.۶%), and violence (۲۳.۴%). There was a significant negative relationship between religious tendencies and risky behaviors of students. Also, there was a significant relationship between age, gender, field of study, health literacy, family income, family structure, attachment to family and peers, commitment to norms, belief in moral principles, social inhibitions, and tendency to high-risk behaviors (p<۰.۰۵).Conclusion: The prevalence of high-risk behaviors in adolescents was high. The supply of tobacco products to teenagers should be prohibited. It is necessary to create healthy entertainment (such as sports and cultural competitions), develop programs, and design educational interventions to prevent risky behaviors and increase communication skills and self-efficacy in adolescents. In addition, strengthening religious beliefs in adolescents by parents and teachers is suggested.