Family Problem-Solving and its Relationship to Adolescent Risk-Taking Behavior

Abstract

Close parent-child relationships have been found to be a protective factor against the development of delinquent behavior (Harris, Furstenberg, & Marmer, 1998). By having a close parent-child relationship, parents may positively influence their adolescent’s development by creating a context for open communication and trust, and fostering family problem-solving abilities.The current study examined the mediating effect of family problem-solving ability on the relationship between attachment and risk-taking behavior in a sample of parents and youth from a larger mentoring study (Campus Connections; N=540). Results show that attachment was negatively related to both parent and adolescent report of the adolescents risk-taking behaviors, after controlling for age, gender, and race/ethnicity; and attachment was positively related to family-problem solving, after controlling for age, gender, and race/ethnicity. Family problem-solving was not associated with parent or youth report of adolescent risk-taking behavior. Finally, family problem-solving ability did not mediate the effect of attachment on parent or youth report of adolescent risk-taking behavior. While family problem-solving did not significantly mediate the relationship between attachment and risk-taking, other family-level behaviors may prove useful for helping families prevent risk-taking during adolescence.