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The Role of Family Background in Adolescent Risky Behavior Development
ABSTRACT: This study examines the role of family
background in the development of adolescent risk
behavior using a sample of 614 secondary school
students (mean age = 16.8). The results show that the
quality of the parent-child relationship is a stronger
predictor of adolescent risk behavior than family
structure itself. Adolescents from non-intact families
who reported strong attachment to their parents
exhibited similarly low levels of risk behavior as
those from intact families. In contrast, weak parental
attachment was associated with significantly higher
engagement in substance use, delinquency, and
bullying. Parental smoking emerged as a significant
risk factor for adolescent substance use, whereas
parental alcohol consumption showed no significant
effect. Gender did not moderate the relationship
between family variables and risk behavior. These
findings highlight parental attachment as a key
protective factor and suggest that strengthening