Mediating Role of Differentiation of Self in the Direct Relation Between Parental Bonding and Risky Behaviors Among Adolescents and Youths in Shiraz

Prevalence of risky behaviors among various classes of society, especially adolescents and youths, is a major social problem, which inevitably slows down the societal progress. We aimed to investigate the mediating role of differentiation of self between parental bonding and risky behavior among adolescents and youths in Shiraz. This study included 560 adolescents and youths (aged from 15 to 35 years, average = 25.7, SD = 7.1; 67.7% males) with risky behaviors who were attending drop in center and Voluntary Counselling and Testing centers, those incarcerated, and those kept in the correctional and rehabilitation facilities 2013 - 2014. Questionnaires about parental bonding, self-differentiation, and risky behaviors were completed by the participants on a voluntary and confidential basis. No significant correlation was found between parental bonding and risky behaviors in the adolescents and youths (t = 1.87). There was also no significant correlation between parental bonding and DS (t = 0.68). Moreover, there was no significant correlation between the differentiation of self and risky behaviors (t = 0.77). Differentiation of self hadn’t a mediating role between parental bonding and risky behaviors among the adolescents and youths in our study.