The Role of Problem Solving Skills and Self-efficiency in explaining the High Risk Behaviors of Students

Background and Purpose: High risk behaviors, in their comprehensive concept, include a series of behaviors which not only seriously damage the person himself and the individuals important in his life, but also can cause unintentional damages to others. This study was conducted to investigate the role of problem solving skills and self-efficiency in explaining the high risk behaviors of students. It was a corelational study. The research population included all the female students studying at the public secondary schools of District 2 of Rasht in the academic year of 2015-2016. 250 students selected by cluster sampling completed the problem solving scale (Cassidy & Long, 1996), adolescent social self-efficiency scale (Kenly, 1989), and risk-taking scale (Zadeh Mohammadi, Ahmadabadi, & Heidari, 2011). Results of correlation coefficient showed that there is a relationship between problem solving skills and self-efficiency and high risk behaviors (p<.0001). Results of regression analysis revealed that problem solving skills and self-efficiency can predict 8 % of high risk behaviors (p<.0001). Based on the results of the present research, it can be concluded that increase of problem solving skills and self-efficiency in students can lead them to decrease their high risk behaviors and to use problem solving strategies to solve their problems.