Health Management & Information Science

Health Management & Information Science

The Associations of Family Cohesion and Impulsivity with High-Risk Behaviors in Female High School Students: The Mediating Role of Internet Addiction

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Seyedeh Fatemeh Mousavian
Reza Johari Fard
Rezvan Homaei
Saeed Bakhtiarpour
Department of Psychology, Ahv.C., Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran
10.30476/jhmi.2026.110072.1344
Abstract
Introduction: Risky behaviors among adolescents represent a significant global public health concern. This study examined the direct and indirect effects of family cohesion and impulsivity on risky behaviors in female high school students, focusing on the mediating role of internet addiction.
Methods: A cross-sectional correlational design with structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed. The sample consisted of 661 female high school students in Ahvaz, Iran (2024–2025 academic year), selected via multi-stage cluster sampling. Instruments included the Family Cohesion Scale (FCS), Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11), Young’s Internet Addiction Test (IAT), and the Iranian Adolescent Risk-Taking Scale (IARS). The mediation model was tested using path analysis.
Results: Family cohesion was significantly and negatively associated with risky behaviors (β = -0.23, P < 0.001), while impulsivity showed a significant positive association (β = 0.20, P < 0.001). Internet addiction partially mediated both relationships, with significant indirect effects for family cohesion (β=−0.05, 95% CI (−0.08, −0.03), P<0.001) and impulsivity (β=0.07, 95% CI (0.04, 0.10), P<0.001).
Conclusion: Lower family cohesion and higher impulsivity were associated with greater internet addiction, which in turn was associated with elevated risky behaviors among female adolescents. These cross-sectional findings are consistent with a statistical mediation model in which internet addiction partially mediates the associations between family cohesion/impulsivity and risky behaviors. Prevention and intervention efforts may benefit from targeting family bonds, impulsivity, and internet addiction to mitigate risky behaviors in this population.

Highlights

Seyedeh Fatemeh Mousavian: Google Scholar

Reza Johari Fard: Google Scholar

Keywords
Adolescent
Family cohesion
Impulsive behavior
Internet addiction disorder
Health risk behaviors
Subjects
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Health Management & Information Science
Volume 13, Issue 2
Spring 2026
Pages 127-138