Structural Relationships Between Family Functioning and Adolescents' High-Risk Behaviors With the Mediating Role of the Quality of School Life

Adolescence is an important stage in the social and psychological growth and development of every person. Adolescence is associated with high–risk behaviors and has adverse effects on the health of the individual and society. Various biological, cognitive, social, and family factors are behind the occurrence of high–risk behaviors in teenagers. One of the important components in the formation of high–risk behaviors is the functioning of the family. In the past few years, the quality of school life has been emphasized due to its importance in the mental health and academic progress of students. The quality of life in the school and the overall satisfaction of the students from the school are formed from the activities inside the school. The aim of the current research was to determine the structural model of the relationship between family functioning and high–risk behaviors of second–year high school teenagers with the mediating role of quality of life at school.

The current research method was analytical and correlational based on structural equation modeling. The statistical population included male and female students of Qazvin Province (Iran) secondary schools in the 2019–2020 academic year. The sample was selected using the cluster sampling method. In this research, a sample of 900 students was selected. Three standard scales were used to collect data: the Iranian Adolescents Risk–Taking Scale (Zadeh Mohammadi et al., 2011), the Risk and Protective Factors Scale (Mohammad Khani, 2008), and Quality of School Life Scale (Soltani Shal et al., 2011). Data analysis was done using descriptive and inferential statistical methods (The Pearson correlation coefficient and structural equation modeling) using SPSS software and AMOS software version 24 and the maximum likelihood estimation method. The evaluation of the model fit index and coefficients of all paths was done. The significance level of statistical tests was considered 0.01.

Results showed that the direct path coefficient between family functioning and high–risk behaviors was significant and negative (p<0.001, β=–0.43). The coefficient of the direct path of family functioning with quality of life at school was significant and positive (p<0.001, β=0.55). The coefficient of the direct path of quality of life in school with high–risk behaviors was significant and negative (p<0.001, β=–0.36). The indirect path coefficient of family functioning with high–risk behaviors was significant and negative (p<0.001, β=–0.195). Finally, the total path coefficient between family functioning and high–risk behaviors was significant (p<0.001, β=–0.628). Quality of school life mediates between family functioning and risky behaviors. Goodness of fit indices showed that the model has good fit (RMSEA=0.056, X2/df=2.58, CFI=0.97, GFI=0.96, AGFI=0.93). The structural model of explaining high–risk behaviors based on family functioning has a good fit with the mediating role of quality of life in school.

Based on the findings of this research, the functioning of the family with the mediating role of the quality of life at school explains the high–risk behaviors of adolescents. The indicators for determining the fit of the model have a good fit. According to the relationships between the variables in the extracted model, to prevent high–risk behaviors, appropriate applications should be designed and necessary measures should be taken.