Gender and Risk-Taking Behaviors: The ‘Generation Z’ College Risk-Taker in a Kenyan University.
Loading...
Date
2024
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
African Journal of Clinical Psychology
Abstract
Enrolment in African institutions of higher learning has doubled in the last 20 years yet there is limited evaluation of risk-taking behaviors in this growing student population. Although there are many components to risk-taking behaviors, externalizing risk-taking behaviors like binge drinking, high-risk sexual behaviors and problem gambling as well as internalizing risktaking behaviors like suicidality are among the top ten causes of death and disabilities impacting university students. Moreover, there is rising global concern about increasing participation in risk-taking behaviors among university students. However, focus generally remains on evaluating single, traditional risk-taking behaviors with little done to evaluate if multiple risk-taking behaviors occur in the same individuals. This study sought to determine the prevalence of traditional and “novel” risk-taking behaviors among female and male students in a university in Kenya. Data from 297 undergraduate students was collected using a sociodemographic and socio-behavioral questionnaire and the DSM-IV Screen for Gambling (NODS-CLiP). Descriptive analyses showed that 61.3% of the students in the sample had engaged in risk-taking behaviors with 26.9% of them involved in multiple risk-taking behaviors. Chi-square tests of independence, at 95% confidence level, showed that male students were more likely to participate in high-risk sexual behaviors and problem gambling while female students were more likely to report suicidality. There was no significant gender
difference in binge drinking or participation in multiple risk-taking behaviors. These findings underscore the need for gender specific mitigation programs, targeting multiple risk-taking behaviors, within institutions of higher learning in Kenya.
Description
Journal Article
Keywords
Binge Drinking, Problem Gambling, Suicidality, High-Risk Sexual Behaviors, University Students, Kenya, NODS-CLiP, Gender.
Citation
Karinge, C. M., Matthews, D., & Mucherah, W. (2024). Gender and Risk-Taking Behaviors: The ‘Generation Z’ College Risk-Taker in a Kenyan University. African Journal of Clinical Psychology.