Factors Affecting Adolescents’ Risk-Taking in Single-Child Families

prevalence of single-child families, as well as risky behaviors which are increasing in the community, there is a need to provide backgrounds for more information regarding the characteristics of single child and factors affecting the risk-taking of adolescents in these families to modify the risk factors of these in adolescents.This is a descriptive, analytical study. The sample was single-child adolescents and their parents conducted in the census method. The data collection tools were demographics questionnaires, Iranian adolescents risk-taking, and Baumrind parenting style inventory completed by the participants in health centers of Qazvin, Iran. ۱۷۰ adolescents participated in this study. About ۷۹% of mothers and ۶۹.۳% of fathers had high education. Most of the mothers were homemakers (۶۲.۹%) and fathers were employees (۷۶.۹%). emotional and social supports reduce risk-taking. If a decision-maker or supervisor for a teenager is someone other than parents, moreover, when the number of meals served by parents is less than twice a day and lack of leisure-time increase the risky behaviors (adjusted R۲ = ۰.۶۶, P = ۰.۰۰۳). parents can reduce their adolescents’ risk-taking by increasing their social and emotional supports, planning for spending more time, and allowing them to participate in family decision-making process.

Keywords:

“Adolescence” , “risk-taking” , “single child”