The Mediating Role of Motivational Structure in the Relationship between Cognitive Abilities and High-Risk Behaviors in Adolescents

The purpose of this study was to predict high-risk behaviors based on cognitive abilities by mediating motivational structures in high school adolescents in Tehran. A total of 426 girls and boys in Tehran second high school were selected by cluster sampling, and responded to the high risk behaviors questionnaire (Zademohammdi & Ahmadabadi,1390), the motivational structure questionnaire (Cox & Klinger, 2004), and the cognitive abilities questionnaire (Nejati, 1392a). For data analysis, statistical analysis of structural equation modeling using the LISREL software was used. Fit indices indicated the fitting of the conceptual model with the data. Comparative Fit Index (CFI = 0.94), fitting goodness index (GFI = 0.95), fitted goodness softened index (AGFI 0.92), and root mean square error approximation (RMSEA = 0.08). They showed that the model fitted with the gathered data. The findings showed that the motivational structure (adaptive Non-adaptive) mediates the role of the relationship between cognitive abilities and high-risk behaviors. Also, the direct effect of adaptive and non-adaptive motivational structure on risk behaviors was significant. The direct effect of cognitive abilities on the adaptive and non-adaptive motivational structure was significant. Also, cognitive abilities were able to explain 5% of adaptive behavior variance and 28% of non-adaptive behavior variance. In addition, two variables of motivational structure (adaptive and non-adaptive behavior) and cognitive abilities could together predict 20 percent of the variance of risky behaviors.