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Adolescent risk behaviours and protective factors against peer influence

Adolescent risk behaviours and protective factors against peer influence

Authors :
Elena Cattelino
Silvia Testa
Michel Born
Emanuela Calandri
Fabienne Glowacz
Manuela Bina
Source :
Journal of Adolescence. 37:1353-1362
Publication Year :
2014
Publisher :
Wiley, 2014.

Abstract

This study examined the relationships between protective factors and involvement in risk behaviour of Italian adolescents with friends involved in risk. Protective factors were drawn from models of peers and from individual skills (perceived regulatory self-efficacy, intolerant attitudes about deviance) and orientation (to health, school, religion). The data are from two waves, 1 year apart, of a questionnaire survey of adolescents in northwestern Italy. Participants were 908 adolescents (42% boys) ages 14-16 years. Results of a hierarchical regression revealed that religiosity is a protective factor and that friends' models for conventional behaviours and positive attitude about health can mitigate the influence of deviant friends on adolescent risk behaviour 1 year later, even after controlling for prior levels of risk behaviour. Possible implications of this study suggest the importance of implementing preventive interventions by involving the peer group, especially at about 16 years, and working with heterogeneous (deviant and nondeviant) groups.

Details

ISSN :
10959254 and 01401971
Volume :
37
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Journal of Adolescence
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....639e9b8be39046927dec8496da75634e
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2014.09.013