Department of Psychology, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2024 Sep 13;21(9):1207. doi: 10.3390/ijerph21091207.
Youth risk-taking behaviors present important public health concerns due to their prevalence and potential adverse consequences, underscoring the need for research and prevention strategies to promote youth's healthy development. The present research examined the relationship between parental psychological control and risk-taking behaviors via benefit perception among high school and college students in Taiwan. Using a cross-sectional design, the study surveyed 378 participants to assess maternal and paternal psychological control, benefit perception, and engagement in risk-taking behaviors. Results indicated no significant difference in psychological control or benefit perception between high school and college students. However, college students reported higher levels of risk-taking behaviors, such as risky driving, alcohol use, and unprotected sex. Both maternal and paternal psychological control positively correlated with benefit perception and risk-taking behaviors. Furthermore, benefit perception mediated the relationship between psychological control and risk-taking behavior among high school and college students. These findings suggested that parental psychological control indirectly influenced youth risk-taking by shaping their perceptions of the benefits of such behaviors. The study highlights the importance of promoting autonomy-supportive parenting to reduce risk-taking behaviors and advocates for programs that enhance decision-making skills among adolescents and emerging adults.
青少年冒险行为是一个重要的公共卫生问题，因为它们普遍存在且可能带来不良后果，这凸显了需要研究和预防策略来促进青少年的健康发展。本研究通过台湾地区高中生和大学生的收益感知，考察了父母心理控制与冒险行为之间的关系。研究采用横断面设计，调查了 378 名参与者，评估了母亲和父亲的心理控制、收益感知以及冒险行为。结果表明，高中生和大学生在心理控制或收益感知方面没有显著差异。然而，大学生报告了更高水平的冒险行为，如危险驾驶、饮酒和无保护性行为。母亲和父亲的心理控制均与收益感知和冒险行为呈正相关。此外，收益感知在高中生和大学生的心理控制与冒险行为之间起到了中介作用。这些发现表明，父母的心理控制通过塑造他们对这些行为收益的感知，间接地影响着青少年的冒险行为。该研究强调了促进自主支持型教养方式的重要性，以减少冒险行为，并提倡为青少年和刚成年的人提供增强决策技能的项目。
