Adolescent problem behaviour: Can a supportive family protect disadvantaged youth?

Passmore, Hayley (2014) Adolescent problem behaviour: Can a supportive family protect disadvantaged youth? Honours thesis, Murdoch University.

Abstract

Problem behaviours among adolescents are currently a global public health and safety issue. Involvement in risky behaviours is especially high for youth who are made more vulnerable by contextual factors, such as a low socioeconomic status (SES). This study aimed to investigate protective factors that could ameliorate the relation between low SES and heavy adolescent problem behaviour involvement, namely, perceived family support. Adolescents’ (n = 109, 67.0% female, Mage = 14.73 years) reported on parental education and perceived family support, and risky behaviours were measured using innovative “real-time” experience sampling method. Whilst SES was associated with the adolescents’ problem behaviours in this study, family support did not moderate this relationship, above and beyond key covariates such as gender and ethnicity. Implications for future research are discussed in light of study findings.

Item Type:	Thesis (Honours)
Murdoch Affiliation(s):	School of Psychology and Exercise Science
Supervisor(s):	Modecki, Kathy
URI:	http://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/id/eprint/24119

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