Risk taking profiles among college students: An examination of health-risk taking, anti-racism action, and college functioning.

This study expands the literature on risk taking among college students by exploring anti-racism action as a form of positive risk taking. 346 Black (64%) and Latinx (36%) college students (85% female) ages 18-27 years ( = 18.75,  = 1.31). Participants responded to questionnaires on anti-racism action, health-risk taking, and college functioning. Latent class analysis identified behavioral profiles of risk takers. Indicators of profile membership and associations with college functioning were examined. Three profiles emerged: moderate overall risk taking, high health-risk taking, and high anti-racism action. Personal experience with discrimination was associated with a greater likelihood of health-risk taking. Students in the high anti-racism profile evinced greater educational functioning than those in the high-health risk taking profile. Risky behavior on college campuses is not homogeneous. Specific interventions and support networks are necessary to support students falling within specific risk profiles.