Developing a Structural Model for Predicting High-Risk Behaviors in Educational Settings Based on Personality Traits and Early Maladaptive Schemas with the Mediating Role of Emotional Regulation and Executive Functions in Adolescents

Document Type : Article extracted From phd dissertation

Authors
Azam Zoodkhizi 1
marjan Hosseinzadeh Taghvaei 1
Nahid Havasi Somar 1
Alireza Poursaeed 2
Masoumeh Zhian Bagheri 1
1 Department of Psychology, Ka.C., Islamic Azad University, karaj, Iran
2 Department of Agricultural Extension and Education, Il.C., Islamic Azad University, Ilam, Iran
10.22034/he.2025.554080.1159
Abstract
Educational environments, as the primary centers for shaping adolescents' behavior and personality, play a decisive role in either preventing or predisposing them to high-risk behaviors. Given this significance, the present study developed a structural model to predict adolescents' high-risk behaviors based on personality traits and early maladaptive schemas, with the mediation of emotion regulation and executive functions, within educational settings. This research is descriptive in nature and applied in purpose. The research population consisted of all female high school students in Tehran during the 2024-2025 academic year. The research sample was selected from this population using convenience sampling, and 400 students participated in the study. Data were collected using the following questionnaires: Mohammadkhani's High-Risk Behaviors Questionnaire (2007), McCrae and Costa's Personality Traits Questionnaire (NEO-FFI, 1985), Young et al.'s Early Maladaptive Schemas Questionnaire (YSQ-S3, 2003), Gross and John's Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ, 2003), and Dawson and Guare's Executive Functions Questionnaire (BRIEF-A, 2012). Path analysis was used to analyze the data. The results of this study confirmed the fit of the structural model for predicting high-risk behaviors in educational settings based on personality traits and early maladaptive schemas with the mediation of emotion regulation and executive functions in adolescents. Furthermore, the mediating role of executive functions was found to have a greater impact on predicting high-risk behaviors in adolescents compared to emotion regulation. The findings of this research can be utilized to develop comprehensive policies and design interventions aimed at preventing adolescents' tendency towards high-risk behaviors.

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Human Ecology
Volume 4, Issue 11
Summer 2025
Pages 1116-1129