When it comes to adolescents and risky behaviors, we often tend to place them all in the same category. However, a new study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health reveals that the picture is far more complex than we assume. Understanding these differences may, in fact, be key to supporting young people more effectively.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yasemin Kisbu from Koç University’s Department of Psychology, together with her graduate students Ilgusu Öksüz and Meryem Şeyda Özcan, and Assoc. Prof. Ayfer Dost Özkan from Özyeğin University, analyzed survey data from nearly 69,000 15-year-olds across 43 European countries to take a closer look at adolescent risk behaviors. Using a method called “latent profile analysis”, the researchers moved beyond examining behaviors individually and instead identified patterns based on how these behaviors cluster together. This approach shows that risky behaviors often do not occur in isolation, but rather as part of broader behavioral patterns.
The study examined a wide range of behaviors, including diet, physical activity, tobacco and alcohol use, cannabis use, early sexual activity, physical fighting, and bullying.
The good news is that the vast majority of adolescents—around 84% of boys and 86% of girls—fall into a “low-risk” group, characterized by generally healthy habits and low levels of engagement in risky behaviors. In other words, the stereotype of the “reckless teenager” does not apply to most adolescents.
The researchers identified five distinct behavioral profiles among boys and six among girls. While some of these profiles reflect expected patterns, others reveal more surprising combinations.
For instance, a group comprising about 6% of boys and 5% of girls is characterized by heavy smoking and high alcohol consumption, yet relatively low cannabis use. In contrast, a smaller group (1–2%) is marked by frequent cannabis use and unhealthy eating habits, while smoking remains less common.
One of the most striking findings is a profile observed in both genders described as a “balanced lifestyle with aggressive behaviors.” Adolescents in this group maintain healthy diets and are physically active, yet they report the highest levels of bullying and physical fighting. This finding highlights that risky behaviors do not always manifest in the ways we might expect.
Another noteworthy pattern appears only among girls: a “moderate lifestyle with low substance use” profile. This group may reflect the more pronounced influence of peer relationships on girls during adolescence.
The study also reveals significant cross-country differences. For example, in Azerbaijan, strict tobacco regulations appear to be associated with very low smoking rates among adolescents, whereas in Bulgaria, a substantial proportion of girls fall into the high-smoking group. These findings suggest that local policies and cultural contexts may play an important role in shaping adolescent behavior.
The key takeaway is clear: prevention programs that treat all adolescents as a single, uniform group are likely to fall short. A teenager who smokes heavily and one who leads a healthy lifestyle but exhibits aggressive behavior require entirely different forms of support.
The researchers emphasize that identifying these distinct behavioral profiles can help policymakers and educators design more targeted and effective interventions for young people.