Predictors of High-Risk Behaviors in Female Adolescents: The Role of Emotional Dysfunction, Self-Differentiation and Self- Assertiveness

This study aimed to predict high-risk behaviors based on emotional disorder, self-differentiation, and self-Assertiveness in female adolescents.

The design of the present study was correlational. The statistical population of the study included all female adolescents aged 16 to 18 years in Shiraz. Among these adolescents, 320 people were selected as a sample using multistage sampling. Research data were collected using High- Risk Behavior Questionnaire (Zadehmohammadi et al, 2011), the initial scale of difficulty in emotion regulation (Gratz and Roemer, 2004), the self-differentiation questionnaire (Drake & Murdock, 2015), and the Self-Assertiveness questionnaire (Gambrill & Richey, 2015). Data were analyzed by correlation, regression analysis using SPSS-23.

Multiple correlation coefficient was 0.52 (p<.01) and 27.1% of high-risk behaviors variance was explained by the study variables. Also, among the predictors, the two variables of assertiveness (β =-0.36, P<0.004) and self-differentiation (β=-0.23, P<0.05), predict high-risk behaviors The two variables of assertiveness, self-differentiation, predict high-risk behaviors and explain a total of 27.1% of its variance.

According to the results, it is suggested to include these factors in prevention programs aimed at reducing high-risk behaviors.