Structural relationships among adolescents’ peer attachment, career‐related self‐efficacy, parents’ attitudes and health risk behaviours

Aim This study aimed to determine whether the peer attachment of adolescents, mediated by career‐related self‐efficacy and having parents with positive attitudes, influences health risk behaviours. Design A cross‐sectional questionnaire survey. Methods This study adopted the secondary data analysis method, using the 2010 Korean Children and Youth Panel Survey (KCYPS). The 7th‐wave panel data of 1,932 first graders in high schools were analysed using structural equation modelling. Results The final model provided a good fit for the data. Having a close relationship with peers had a direct effect on adolescents’ health risk behaviours. High peer attachment also had an indirect effect on health risk behaviours, mediated by career‐related self‐efficacy and having parents with positive attitudes. Though adolescents with broad and intimate peer relationships may be exposed to more temptations towards health risk behaviours and tend to make riskier decisions, these influences are reduced by being exposed to positive parenting attitudes and having clear, conscious career goals.