Reducing risky security behaviours:utilising affective feedback to educate users

Despite the number of tools created to help end-users reduce risky security behaviours, users are still falling victim to online attacks. This paper proposes a browser extension utilising affective feedback to provide warnings on detection of risky behaviour. The paper provides an overview of behaviour considered to be risky, explaining potential threats users may face online. Existing tools developed to reduce risky security behaviours in end-users have been compared, discussing the success rate of various methodologies. Ongoing research is described which attempts to educate users regarding the risks and consequences of poor security behaviour by providing the appropriate feedback on the automatic recognition of risky behaviour. The paper concludes that a solution utilising a browser extension is a suitable method of monitoring potentially risky security behaviour. Ultimately, future work seeks to implement an affective feedback mechanism within the browser extension with the aim of improving security awareness

An exploration into knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs towards risky health behaviours in a paediatric Cystic Fibrosis population

Risky behaviours are prevalent within the cystic fibrosis (CF) population; however, there is a lack of research which has investigated risky behaviour engagement among adolescents with CF, with reasons for initiation currently being unknown, as no qualitative studies have been conducted. This research therefore examines knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs towards risky behaviours at an age commonly associated with initiation. Ten paediatric participants were recruited. Thematic analysis illustrated several psychological factors associated with risky behaviours. A desire for normalcy was evident, with this been associated with a desire to engage in normalised risky behaviours. Evidence of a life-orientated illness perspective was also prevalent, with participants believing that many individuals engage in risky behaviours for fun. Overall, there was a reported lack of knowledge on consequences of risky behaviours, with many participants not being informed of these by health care professionals (HCPs). This research provides insight into an area of CF paediatric care which could be improved on, with the provision of awareness regarding risky behaviours not being embedded within paediatric CF care. Consequently, this research demonstrates the need for interventions to be integrated into paediatric CF care for the prevention and reduction of risky behaviours

Risky Driving Behaviours among Medical Students in Erbil, Iraq

Objectives: This study aimed to assess risky driving behaviours among medical students in Erbil, Iraq, and to explore the relationship between risky driving behaviours and perceptions of risky driving. Methods: This self-administered questionnaire-based survey was conducted from January to May 2014 among a random sample of 400 medical students at Hawler Medical University in Erbil. The questionnaire was designed to assess the frequency of engagement in 21 risky driving behaviours, the perceived risk of each behaviour and the preference for each behaviour as ranked on a 5-point scale. Results: A total of 386 students responded to the survey (response rate: 96.5%). Of these, 211 reported that they currently drove a vehicle (54.7%). Drivers most frequently engaged in the following behaviours: playing loud music (35.9%), speeding (30.4%), allowing front seat passengers to not wear seat belts (27.9%) and using mobile phones (27.7%). Least frequent driving behaviours included not stopping at a red light (3.9%), driving while sleepy (4.4%), driving after a mild to moderate intake of alcohol (4.5%) and drunk driving (6.4%). Mean risky driving behaviour scores were significantly higher among males (P <0.001) and those who owned a car (P = 0.002). The mean risk perception score was higher among >20-year-olds (P = 0.028). There was a significant positive relationship between the preference for risky behaviours and risky driving behaviours (beta = 0.44; P <0.001). Conclusion: Medical students in Erbil reported high frequencies of several serious risky driving behaviours. The preference for risky behaviours was found to be an important predictor of risky driving behaviours among medical students in Erbil

Risk and injury portrayal in boys' and girls' favourite television programmes

Objectives: To analyse the injury-related content of children’s television programmes preferred by boys and by girls, and to determine whether there are more televised models of unsafe behaviour in programmes preferred by boys. Methods: Parents of 4–11-year-old children identified their children’s favourite television programmes. Content analysis of 120 episodes of children’s favourite programmes was used to quantify safe and risky behaviours, actual injuries and potential injuries. The gender of the characters portraying the behaviours was also analysed. Results: More risky behaviour was portrayed in the boys’ favourite programmes (mean per episode =6.40) than in the girls’ favourite programmes (mean=2.57). There were almost twice as many potential injuries (n=310) as actual injuries (n=157). Potential injuries were portrayed more often by male characters (mean=1.92) than female characters (mean=0.98), mostly in the boys’ favourite programmes. Actual injuries occurred more often to male characters (mean=1.04) than to female characters (mean=0.27) overall. Conclusions: Television programmes preferred by this sample of boys portrayed male role models engaging in risky behaviours and injuries more often than the programmes preferred by the sample of girls

Risky Behaviours Among Young People Living with HIV Attending Care and Treatment Clinics in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania: Implications for Prevention with a Positive Approach.

Introduction: Prevention with a positive approach has been advocated as one of the main strategies to reduce new instances of HIV infection. Risky sexual behaviours among people living with HIV/AIDS are the cornerstone for this approach. Understanding the extent to which infected individuals practice risky behaviours is fundamental in designing appropriate population-specific interventions. With the HIV infection transmission rates remaining high among young people in sub-Saharan Africa, continued prevention among them remains a priority. This study therefore seeks to describe the magnitude and determinants of risky sexual behaviours among young people living with HIV. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between June and July 2010 in selected Care and Treatment Clinics (CTCs) in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. A total of 282 HIV-positive patients aged 15-24 were interviewed about their sexual behaviours using a questionnaire. Results: Prevalence of unprotected sex was 40.0% among young males and 37.5% among young females (p<0.001). Multiple sexual partnerships were reported by 10.6% of males and 15.9% of females (p<0.005). More than 50% of the participants did not know about the HIV status of their sexual partners. A large proportion of participants had minimal knowledge of transmission (46.7% males vs. 60.4% females) and prevention (65.3% males vs. 73.4% females) of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Independent predictors of condom use included non-use of alcohol [adjusted odds ratio (AOR), 0.40 95% confidence interval (CI); 0.17-0.84] and younger age (15-19 years) (AOR, 2.76, 95% CI: 1.05-7.27). Being on antiretroviral therapy (AOR, 0.38, 95% CI: 0.17-0.85) and not knowing partners' HIV sero-status (AOR, 2.62, 95% CI: 1.14-5.10) predicted the practice of multiple sexual partnership. Conclusions: Unprotected sex and multiple sexual partnerships were prevalent among young people living with HIV. Less knowledge on STI and lack of HIV disclosure increased the vulnerability and risk for HIV transmission among young people. Specific intervention measures addressing alcohol consumption, risky sexual behaviours, and STI transmission and prevention knowledge should be integrated in the routine HIV/AIDS care and treatment offered to this age group

Social association membership and risky behaviours among adolescents in South Africa

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Humanities, School of Social Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in the field of Demography and Population Studies, 2016Background: Risky behaviours are notably the most important factors contributing to negative health outcomes among adolescents. A number of diseases and deaths have been linked to risky and harmful behaviours. Research has shown that being involved in one risky behaviour increases the likelihood of involvement in additional risky behaviours. Adolescents have been identified at the centre of sustainable development, particularly in achieving goals related to bringing poverty to an end, promoting health and well-being, attaining equitable and quality primary and secondary education as well as achieving inclusive and sustainable economic growth. Objectives: The objective of this study was firstly to examine the levels of social association membership and risky behaviour among adolescents. Secondly, to identify the determinants of risky behaviour among South African adolescents and lastly, to examine the relationship between social association membership and risky behaviour among adolescents. Methods: Data were drawn from the South African Youth Life Style Survey of 2008. A sample of 3335 adolescents aged 12 to 19 years was analysed. Four binary and one multinomial logistic regression analyses were conducted. The four binary dependent variables were for risky sexual behaviours, risky substance use behaviours, other risky behaviours and engaging in at least one type of behaviour. For each of these binary dependent variables the response category was yes or no. The dependent variable for the multinomial logistic regression model was any adolescent risky behaviour which was categorised as; no behaviour, any one category of behaviour, any two categories of behaviour and all three categories of behaviour. The key independent variables were firstly an index variable generated by merging all the different social associations into one variable that had the response yes or no to being a member of any social association. There were also five key independent variables that were the individual social associations namely; sports, religious groups, choir, drama and other associations. Results: The two most common social associations that adolescents engaged in were sports groups (515 per 1000 adolescents) and religious groups (342 per 1000 adolescents). Risky vii behaviours with the highest number adolescents engaging in them were driving without a seatbelt (32%), consuming alcohol (32%), being a passenger in a car driven by someone under the influence of alcohol (28%), tobacco use (21%) and lack of condom use (9%). Adolescents who were not members of social associations were found to have decreased the risk of engaging in one, two and all three categories of risky behaviours. Not being a member of religious groups increased the risk of engaging in one, two and all three categories of risky behaviour. Adolescents who were not members of sports groups were found to have lower risks of engaging in one, two and all three categories of risky behaviour, as well as decreased odds of engaging in at least one type of risky behaviour. Conclusion: The study found that there was a statistically significant relationship between social association membership and risky behaviours among adolescents in South Africa. More particularly, religious associations were found to be protective factors to risky behaviours and sports, drama and other associations were found to be platforms that could potentially increase the likelihood of risky behaviour among adolescents.GR201

Psychosocial Competencies and Risky Behaviours in Peru

The authors use a unique longitudinal dataset from Peru to investigate the relationship between psychosocial competencies related to the concepts of self-esteem, self-efficacy and aspirations, and a number of risky behaviours at a crucial period of transition between adolescence and early adulthood. First, the researchers document a high prevalence of risky behaviours, with one in two individuals engaging in at least one risky activity by the age of 19, and a dramatic increase between the ages of 15 and 19. Second, the document finds a pronounced pro-male bias and some differences according to area of residence, particularly in the consumption of alcohol, which is more prevalent in urban areas. Third, the report finds a negative correlation (robust to a number of specifications) between early self-esteem and later risky behaviours. Further, aspiring to higher education at the age of 15 is found to be correlated with a lower probability of drinking and of engaging in criminal behaviours at the age of 19. Similarly, such aspirations protect girls from risky sexual behaviours

Eligibility for interventions, co-occurrence and risk factors for unhealthy behaviours in patients consulting for routine primary care: results from the Pre-Empt study

Smoking, excessive drinking, lack of exercise and a poor diet remain key causes of premature morbidity and mortality globally, yet it is not clear what proportion of patients attending for routine primary care are eligible for interventions about these behaviours, the extent to which they co-occur within individuals, and which individuals are at greatest risk for multiple unhealthy behaviours. The aim of the trial was to examine 'intervention eligibility' and co-occurrence of the 'big four' risky health behaviours - lack of exercise, smoking, an unhealthy diet and excessive drinking - in a primary care population. Data were collected from adult patients consulting routinely in general practice across South Wales as part of the Pre-Empt study; a cluster randomised controlled trial. After giving consent, participants completed screening instruments, which included the following to assess eligibility for an intervention based on set thresholds: AUDIT-C (for alcohol), HSI (for smoking), IPAQ (for exercise) and a subset of DINE (for diet). The intervention following screening was based on which combination of risky behaviours the patient had. Descriptive statistics, χ2 tests for association and ordinal regressions were undertaken. Two thousand sixty seven patients were screened: mean age of 48.6 years, 61.9 % female and 42.8 % in a managerial or professional occupation. In terms of numbers of risky behaviours screened eligible for, two was the most common (43.6 %), with diet and exercise (27.2 %) being the most common combination. Insufficient exercise was the most common single risky behaviour (12.0 %). 21.8 % of patients would have been eligible for an intervention for three behaviours and 5.9 % for all four behaviours. Just 4.5 % of patients did not identify any risky behaviours. Women, older age groups and those in managerial or professional occupations were more likely to exhibit all four risky behaviours. Very few patients consulting for routine primary care screen ineligible for interventions about common unhealthy behaviours, and most engage in more than one of the major common unhealthy behaviours. Clinicians should be particularly alert to opportunities to engaging younger, non professional men and those with multi-morbidity about risky health behaviour. ISRCTN22495456. BACKGROUND METHODS RESULTS CONCLUSION TRIAL REGISTRATIO

Parents Financial Distress and Time Allocation with Youths Responsible for Increasing Trends of Risky Behaviours among Youths in Mumbai Metropolitan Region

Youths are powerful economic agent for any nation. An educated, healthy, hardworking youths are human asset for nation, society, and family in long term. Youths must have trained with quality education. It is job of government, families, and society to ensure that they will acquire maximum skills, knowledge, healthy behaviour, nutritional status. But male youths are driving four wheelers and female drive two wheelers without proper license and trend is increasing since 2013 to 2023. The smoking, alcohol consumption has increased among males. Youths are more depressed in region. They fight physically more and do not eat healthy diet. The incidence of risky behaviours became double in a decade. Few youths involved in multiple sex with opposite sex relationship with lack of understanding and use of contraceptives. Logistic regression model 2013 survey shows that multiple risky behaviours are co-related to youths walk to college, spend more time in college, travel by train and car. But 2023 survey, shows that multiple risky behaviours are co-related to age of youths, loans taken by parents. The role of parents is important in controlling risky behaviours such as risky driving, smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol, depression, and opposite sex relationship. Parents must teach youths nutritious food habits, traffic rules, no smoking and alcohol, physical fight. Long term policies for youths and parents required to reduce risky behaviours on urgent basis in Mumbai Metropolitan Region

Employees Attitudes towards Cyber Security and Risky Online Behaviours: An Empirical Assessment in the United Kingdom

The present study aimed to explore if the size of company an individual works for, age or attitudes towards cyber security affected frequency to engage in risky online behaviours. A total of 515 participants aged between 18-84 in full or part-time employment were asked to complete a questionnaire that consisted of two scales. One measured their attitude towards cyber security and general awareness of cyber crime, the other examined the types of ‘risky’ cyber security behaviours they were engaged in. The results demonstrated a significant negative correlation between attitudes towards cyber security and risky cyber security behaviours, with more negative attitudes being linked to higher levels of risky behaviours. There were also significant differences according to company size and age group according to frequency of engaging in risky cyber security behaviour and attitudes towards cyber security. The findings are presented as furthering our understanding of how employee attitudes contribute to company cyber security, as well as highlighting how the size of an organisation could be linked to difference in knowledge and adherence to ISA protocols