Role of Self-Efficacy and Sensation-Seeking in Predicting Adolescents' Tendency towards Risk-Taking Behaviors (Case Study: high school second-grade students in the fifth region of Tehran)

Purpose: The present study was aimed to predict adolescents' tendency towards risk-taking behaviors based on self-efficacy and sensation seeking. Methodology: Research method was descriptive-correlational. The statistical population of the present study consisted of high school second-grade students in the fifth region off Tehran. From the schools of this region, two schools were randomly selected; and from each school, 60 students were randomly selected and examined. Hence, totally 120 individuals were chosen as a sample group. The tools used in this study included Scherer's et al (1982) general self-efficacy questionnaire and Zukerman's (1996) sensation seeking scale as well as Ahmadabadi and Mohammadizadeh's (2011) risk taking scale. According to the level of data analysis and statistical hypotheses, multifold linear regression was used in order to test hypotheses. Findings: The results of the statistical analysis showed that factors such as excitability and adventure as well as seeking experience were significantly correlated with risk-taking behaviors in a 5% level. Discussion: The positivity of these coefficients, in fact, indicates that with an increase in these factors, there will be an increase in risk-taking behaviors. In addition, self-efficacy was negatively and significantly correlated with risk-taking behaviors.