Risk Behavior Among Slovak and Czech Adolescents Through the Lens of Self-Regulation, Prosociality, and Antisociality

INTRODUCTION:

In the present article, we focused on the relationship between risk behaviour in adolescents, self-regulation, pro-sociality and anti-sociality. We work under the assumption that the development of the ability to self-regulate facilitates processes of internalisation, thereby strengthening the conscious effort toward prosocial behaviour and the reduction in antisocial tendencies. This creates suitable conditions for minimising risk behaviours typical for adolescence.

METHODS:

Our research sample consisted of 3,092 adolescents enrolled in upper secondary education (ISCED 3) in Slovakia and Czechia, ranging in age from 15 to 19 (M = 16.81, SD = 1.11). We collected data using 4 questionnaires/ scales: the Occurrence of Adolescents Risk Behaviour, the Risk Behaviour Scale, the Prosocial Tendency Measure-Revised, and the Self-regulation Questionnaire. All used methods were available in both Slovak and Czech with acceptable values of reliability.

RESULTS:

The main result of our statistical analysis is the output from the regression analysis. We found that age, sex, nationality, altruism, antisocial behaviour and self-regulation were predictors of risk behaviour in adolescents. The adjusted R2 coefficient explained approximately 18 % of the variability.

CONCLUSION:

Our data supported the predicted relationship between the test variables. Specifically, we found that a higher probability of risk behaviour in adolescents between the age 15 to 19 exists in older adolescents, girls (small difference), those with weaker self-regulation ability, higher antisocial tendencies, and lower prosociality.