The Relationship between Family Functioning and High-Risk Sexual Behaviors and Substance Use in Women: Mediation of Psychological Capital

One of the dangers and crises of today's societies is the tendency of women to engage in risky behaviors. The aim of this study was to investigate family performance with a tendency to high-risk sexual behaviors and substance use mediated by psychological capital in women in Kermanshah.

In this descriptive-analytical correlational study, 600 women were selected using available sampling method. For data collection, Lutaz & Avari (2007) Psychological Capital Questionnaire, Epstein, Baldwin & Bishab (1983) Family Functioning Questionnaire and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Behavior Questionnaire were used. Data analysis was performed using correlation and path analysis methods by SPSS-25 and AMOS-23 software.

The results showed that there was a significant negative correlation between family performance and tendency to use drugs and high-risk sex at the level of P = 0.001. The results also showed that there is a significant negative correlation between self-efficacy, optimism, hope and resilience with the tendency to use drugs and high-risk sexual behavior at the level of P = 0.001. Finally, the results showed that the variables of optimism and hope can mediate between family performance and tendency to risky sexual behavior and substance use. Therefore, by emphasizing family functioning and positive psychological concepts and by strengthening these factors, it is possible to prevent people from tending to high-risk behaviors (substance use and high-risk sexual behaviors).