The Releationship Between Mindfulness and High-Risk Behaviors Mediated by Social-Virtual Networks

Background: High-risk behaviors are potentially harmful and threaten health and well-being of adolescents. Objectives: This study aimed to establish a causal relationship between mindfulness and high-risk behaviors mediated by socialvirtual networks. Patients and Methods: This descriptive correlational study utilized structural equation modeling (path analysis). The statistical population comprised all senior high school male students in Zahedan in the academic year 2017 - 2018. Based on the Krejcie and Morgan’s table, 370 students were selected using a cluster random sampling method. Data collection tools included Brown and Ryan Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (2003), Moghimi and Latifi Questionnaire on Effects of Being a Member of Social Networks (2015), and Zadeh Mohammadi et al. Risk-Taking Scale (2011). Data were analyzed using SPSS V. 22 and Amos with the path analysis method. Results: Model fit indices indicated that the causal model between mindfulness and high-risk behaviors mediated by social-virtual networks fitted sufficiently well. Additionally, the results of the path analysis demonstrated a negative relationship between mindfulness and high-risk behaviors and a positive relationship between the individual, social, and cultural-moral effects and high-risk behaviors. Thus, mindfulness affected high-risk behaviors via social-virtual networks. Conclusions: The results obtained from the current study showed the importance of the mentioned variables in having a tendency toward high-risk behaviors.