Introduction: Adolescence is a challenging period marked by hormonal changes and social pressures that can lead to risky behaviors. The purpose of this study is to examine the connections between self-compassion, experiential avoidance, and risky behaviors in Iranian adolescents, with a focus on the mediating role of integrative self-knowledge.
Methods: This study utilized a correlational design, specifically employing structural equation modeling. The target population consisted of male students in the first period of secondary school in Zanjan city, with a sample size of 500 individuals selected through multi-stage cluster sampling. The instruments utilized in this study included the Risky Behaviors Scale by Zadeh-Mohammadi and Ahmadabadi, the Integrative Self-Knowledge Questionnaire by Ghorbani et al., the Short Form of the Self-Compassion Scale by Raes et al., and the Multidimensional Experiential Avoidance Questionnaire by Gamez et al. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and structural equation modeling in SmartPLS software.
Results: The results indicate an inverse relationship between self-compassion and integrative self-knowledge with risky behaviors (p < 0.01), as well as a direct relationship between experiential avoidance and risky behaviors (p < 0.01). Additionally, experiential avoidance was found to have a direct effect on both integrative self-knowledge and risky behaviors (p < 0.01), while the direct effect of integrative self-knowledge on risky behaviors was not significant (p > 0.05). Furthermore, self-compassion was found to have a direct effect on integrative self-knowledge (p < 0.01) and an inverse effect on risky behaviors (p < 0.01). The model fit indices suggest that the proposed research model has a good fit (SRMR = 0.001, NFI = 1, GOF = 0.43).
Conclusion: Self-compassion acts as a direct protective factor, and experiential avoidance functions as a direct risk factor in adolescents’ risky behaviors; however, integrative self-knowledge does not play a mediating role in this sample. It is recommended that school-based prevention programs focus on enhancing self-compassion and reducing experiential avoidance.