Hang-out and health risk behavior in adolescents: A qualitative study

Introduction: Hang-out can trigger health risk behavior in adolescents. This qualitative study aimed to explore hang-out related to health risk behavior in adolescents. Method: Five focus groups were carried out with 44 adolescents aged 12–25 in Surabaya, Indonesia. Participants were purposively selected and had all experienced hang-out activities. A thematic analysis approach was used for analysis and data collection was completed at the point of data saturation. Results: Hang-out activities can encourage health risk behaviors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, drugs use, sweet beverages and fast food consumption. They interpret hang-out as interaction, socialization, entertainment and leisure time. Conclusions: Adolescents who have free time will use it with hang-outas a form of self-expression. This has led to the culture of hang-out activity that can trigger health risk behavior. They spend time in places that they feel comfortable, the availability of the facilities they need and can show social classes among them. The government can formulate strategies to prevent health risk behavior in adolescents such as providing health promotion on prevention of health risk behavior.