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Volume 25, Issue 162 (8-2026)
Journal of Psychological Science 2026, 25(162): 1-18 |
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Afrazeh A, Khoeini F, Imani Khoshkhoo S, Bolouki J. (2026). Physical Activity and the Tendency Toward High-Risk Behaviors in the Developmental Period of Adolescence. Journal of Psychological Science. 25(162), : 7 doi:10.66224/jps.25.162.7
URL: http://psychologicalscience.ir/article-1-2956-en.html
URL: http://psychologicalscience.ir/article-1-2956-en.html
Department of Psychology, University of Gilan, Rasht, Iran. , shahinimani@webmail.guilan.ac.ir
Abstract: (83 Views)
Background: The tendency toward high-risk behaviors is one of the major challenges during adolescence, and physical activity can play an important role in reducing such behaviors. However, most studies have overlooked age-related differences across the stages of adolescence. Therefore, it is essential to examine this relationship separately during different phases of adolescent development.
Aims: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between physical activity and high-risk behaviors in the developmental period of adolescence.
Methods: This causal-comparative cross-sectional study was conducted during the 2024–2025 academic year on 1,325 male secondary school students (middle and high school) aged 12 to 18 in Siahkal County. Using a two-stage cluster sampling method, 435 students were selected, with 145 participants in each developmental stage of adolescence (early, middle, and late). Research instruments included the Adolescent Physical Activity Questionnaire (Kowalski et al., 1997) and the Iranian Adolescent Risk-Taking Scale (Zadehmohammadi et al., 2011). Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation, multiple regression, and Fisher’s Z-test in SPSS v26.
Results: In early adolescence, physical activity was significantly and negatively associated only with tendencies toward smoking and drug use (p < 0.05). In middle adolescence, physical activity showed significant negative associations with smoking (p < 0.01), alcohol use (p < 0.05), drug use (p < 0.01), and sexual behavior (p < 0.05). In late adolescence, physical activity had significant negative relationships with all high-risk behaviors, including violence (p < 0.05). The comparison of Fisher’s Z coefficients also showed that the strength of this relationship in late adolescence, compared to earlier stages, was significantly greater in behaviors such as alcohol use (z = 2.67), sexual behavior (z = 2.07), and violence (z = 2.12), as all values were significant (z ≥ 1.96).
Conclusion: Physical activity can play an effective protective role in reducing high-risk behaviors among adolescents, especially during late adolescence when this effect is more pronounced. Accordingly, it is recommended that preventive programs and educational interventions be designed and implemented with a greater emphasis on physical activity during this developmental stage
Aims: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between physical activity and high-risk behaviors in the developmental period of adolescence.
Methods: This causal-comparative cross-sectional study was conducted during the 2024–2025 academic year on 1,325 male secondary school students (middle and high school) aged 12 to 18 in Siahkal County. Using a two-stage cluster sampling method, 435 students were selected, with 145 participants in each developmental stage of adolescence (early, middle, and late). Research instruments included the Adolescent Physical Activity Questionnaire (Kowalski et al., 1997) and the Iranian Adolescent Risk-Taking Scale (Zadehmohammadi et al., 2011). Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation, multiple regression, and Fisher’s Z-test in SPSS v26.
Results: In early adolescence, physical activity was significantly and negatively associated only with tendencies toward smoking and drug use (p < 0.05). In middle adolescence, physical activity showed significant negative associations with smoking (p < 0.01), alcohol use (p < 0.05), drug use (p < 0.01), and sexual behavior (p < 0.05). In late adolescence, physical activity had significant negative relationships with all high-risk behaviors, including violence (p < 0.05). The comparison of Fisher’s Z coefficients also showed that the strength of this relationship in late adolescence, compared to earlier stages, was significantly greater in behaviors such as alcohol use (z = 2.67), sexual behavior (z = 2.07), and violence (z = 2.12), as all values were significant (z ≥ 1.96).
Conclusion: Physical activity can play an effective protective role in reducing high-risk behaviors among adolescents, especially during late adolescence when this effect is more pronounced. Accordingly, it is recommended that preventive programs and educational interventions be designed and implemented with a greater emphasis on physical activity during this developmental stage
Article number: 7
Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Special
Received: 2025/05/20 | Accepted: 2026/07/9 | Published: 2026/08/23
Received: 2025/05/20 | Accepted: 2026/07/9 | Published: 2026/08/23
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