Clinical Psychology: Research and Practice Innovations

Clinical Psychology: Research and Practice Innovations"

Structural Relationships of Health-Related Risky Behaviors with Adverse Childhood Experiences, Psychological Status, and Perception of a Dark Future by Examining the Mediating Role of Protective Moral Competencies

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Ali Mohebi 1
Shahab Moradi 2
Nemat Sotoudeh Asl 3
Maryam IzadiMazidi 4
1 PhD student in Psychology, Semnan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Semnan, Iran
2 Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities, Semnan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Semnan, Iran
3 Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, Semnan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Semnan, Iran
4 Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, University of Yasouj, Yasouj, Iran.
10.22075/jcp.2025.36638.3141
Abstract
Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the structural relationships between health-related risky behaviors, adverse childhood experiences, and psychological status by examining the mediating role of protective moral competencies.
Method: This study was a correlational study using structural equation modeling. The statistical population was all second-year high school students in Semnan city in the last quarter of the academic year 1402-1403, and the sample size was 1084 students who were selected by cluster sampling. To collect data, the questionnaires for adolescent risky behaviors by Alizadeh Mohammadi and Ahmadabadi, moral competencies by Martin and Ashtin, traumatic experiences in childhood by Vanderhart and Vanderleen, NEO (only the neurotic dimension), and perception of a dark future by Zaleski et al. were used.
Results: The results showed that the indicator variables in the latent variables of risky behaviors and protective moral values loaded consistently and significantly on these latent constructs (t> 1.96). The effect of protective moral values on risky behaviors was negative and significant (β= -0.54). The effects of traumatic childhood experiences on risky behaviors (γ= 0.11), unfavorable psychological state on risky behaviors (γ= 0.22), and perception of a bleak future on risky behaviors (γ= 0.10) were positive and significant (t> 1.96). The effects of traumatic childhood experiences on moral competence (γ= -0.27), unfavorable psychological state on moral competence (γ= -0.42), and perception of a bleak future on moral competence (γ= -0.15) were negative and significant (t> 1.96). The indirect effects (mediated by protective moral competences) of the variables of traumatic childhood experiences on risky behaviors (IE= 0.14), adverse psychological state on risky behaviors (IE= 0.23), and perception of a bleak future on risky behaviors (IE= 0.08) were significant.
Conclusion: The results of the study showed that traumatic childhood experiences, adverse psychological state, and perception of a bleak future play a role in the formation of risky behaviors, while moral competences act as a protective factor. These results can be used in designing preventive interventions and promoting the mental health of children and adolescents.
Keywords
Risky behaviors
protective moral values
adverse childhood experiences
psychological state
bleak future
Subjects

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  • Receive Date 12 March 2025
  • Revise Date 13 July 2025
  • Accept Date 14 July 2025
  • First Publish Date 21 March 2026
  • Publish Date 21 March 2026