Prediction of risk taking behaviors in adolescents by locus of control and decision making

The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between locus of control and decision making with risk taking behaviors of adolescents. Participants were
 high school students (M= 1/ and SD= /) in Dezful who were selected through multi stage randomize sampling method. Participants completed Young’s Risk Behaviors Scale, Rutter’s Internal, external locus of control Questionnaires, and General Decision Making Style. Results showed that risk taking behavior were positively correlated with external locus of control, dependent and intuitive decision making styles and were correlated negatively with rational decision making styles. Internal locus of control was positively related with rational decision making styles. A standard multiple regression analysis was conducted to evaluate how well locus of control, decision making, age, and gender could predict the risk taking. Result of this analysis showed that the locus of control, decision making style, gender and age explained
% of the risk taking behavior’s variance.