Analyzing the tendency towards high-risk behaviors in secondary school students: measuring gender differences based on individual, family and peer factors

current study was conducted with the aim of measuring the impact of gender differences based on individual, family and peer factors in  attitude and tendency towards risky behaviors in the second high school students of Tehran.

The present research method was correlational. The statistical population of this research is the total number of students studying in the second secondary level of non-government schools in Tehran in the academic year of 2021-2020. Using Cochran's formula, 249 people (153 boys and 96 girls) were selected through multi-stage cluster sampling. The subjects responded to 3 questionnaires: psychosocial risk factors and protector of problematic behavior, Juris, Turbin and Costa (2003), Carver & White Behavioral Brain System Questionnaire (1994) and high risk behaviors of Mohammadi by self-assessment method. Data were analyzed through descriptive statistics, correlation and hierarchical regression model and analysis of variance test through SPSS software.

The findings showed that personality traits explain 59% of the changes in the total score of risky behavior in students (p<0.01, F=36.74 (224 and 9)) and between the group of girls and boys in the subscale. There is a statistically significant difference in smoking, dangerous driving, anger, drug use, alcohol, sexual behavior and friendship with the opposite sex.

The results showed that personality traits, family cohesion and peer group act as an effective internal and external source against teenagers' tendency and attitude towards risky behaviors as a protective shield