Attribution Style and High-risk Behaviors: The Mediating Role of Coping Strategies

Psychologists are extensively trying to identify predictors of high risk behaviors. One of the most important factors which influence high risk behaviors is attribution styles of individuals. Few studies have investigated the role of mediating variables in this relationship. The present study with the aim of providing a model to determine impact of attribution style with a mediating role of coping styles on high risk behaviors was performed. Hence, sample of 206 students (120 female, 86 male) were selected from Tehran University, using multistage cluster sampling. To collect data Youth Risk Behavior Survey Questionnaire (Center Disease Control, 1989), Attributional style questionnaire (Petersen, et al, 1982) and Coping inventory for stressful situations (Endler & Parker, 1990) were used. Results indicated direct effect of attribution style with taskoriented, emotion-oriented strategies and high-risk behavior, and indirect effect of attribution style with high-risk behaviors mediated by task-oriented strategy. Furthermore, task-oriented and avoidance-oriented strategies had direct effect on high-risk behaviors. Therefore the mediating role of coping strategies in the relation of attribution style and high-risk behaviors were confirmed. Eventually, the model adequately fit the data.