Exploring the Risk Behaviour of Learners in a South African Private Christian Secondary School

Abstract

Adolescent learners often express independence with risky health behaviour such as poor eating habits, smoking and consuming alcohol.  The primary aim of this study was to assess whether a school with an ethos of strict discipline and religious education has an impact on the prevention of risky health behaviour. A health risk behaviour questionnaire was distributed amongst all learners in a private Christian secondary school in order to measure behaviour and attitudes towards eating habits, alcohol and drug intake, exercise, sexual activity, smoking and attitude towards Christian values.  A sample of 117 responses from all grades was obtained.The results indicated that these learners were more conservative than learners in other studies.  Most had healthy eating habits; 92.3% consumed dairy products, 64.1% consumed more than two fruits and 81.2% more than two vegetables per day.  More than 78% exercised regularly.  Only 10.2% consumed alcohol, 3.4% smoked and 5.2% used recreational drugs.  Of all learners 93.2% believed that their Christian values have an influence on their lifestyle. As it seems that the strict Christian education of these learners lead to less risky health behaviour, ways in which to promote this school’s strategies to other schools, could be investigated.

https://doi.org/10.19108/KOERS.82.1.2266