Risk Behavior among Israeli Backpackers and their Influential Factors

In recent years, it has become customary for many young Israelis to venture on backpacking trips to various destinations across the globe. During this time, they are exposed to new and exciting experiences, some of a destructive nature, including the use of dangerous substances such as alcohol and drugs. Studies have found these behaviors to be associated with various personal and communal resources.

The current study wishes to explore how personal and community resources with which individuals are equipped contribute to the prediction of dangerous behavior among Israeli backpackers. The personal resources reviewed are self-esteem and sense of control; social resources include social and familiar support, sense of communal belonging, and representation. The literature reveals that the personal and communal resources with which the individual is equipped are tightly connected to risky behavior.

The study was comprised of a sample of 332 Israeli backpackers in various locations across the globe. Data was collected using self-report questionnaires, which surveyed degrees of self-esteem and sense of control, as well as representation, social support and community belonging. The level of involvement with risky behavior was also examined.

The study reveals a negative relationship between risky behavior and sense of control, self-esteem, social and familial support, community belonging and representation. Lower reported degrees of these resources correlated with higher degrees of risky behavior. Furthermore, a regressive hierarchy model of the research parameters revealed that individual sense of control, social and familial support, and representation were the parameters the most contributed to predicting risky behavior.

The results allow for an expansion of available literature concerning personal and communal resources that may be linked to risky behavior among backpackers. On a practical level, by understanding the parameters that contribute to risky behavior and mapping some of the factors that contribute to such behavior among backpackers, the study may contribute to the development of prevention and information efforts directed at young backpackers and perhaps help form suitable on-site response.