Structural Equation Modeling of Addiction Susceptibility in Male High School Students Based on Parental Emotional Tone and Hostile Attribution with the Mediating Role of Behavioral Activation/Inhibition Systems
Keywords:
Addiction susceptibility, parental emotional tone, hostile attribution, Behavioral Activation System, Behavioral Inhibition System, adolescentsAbstract
The objective of this study was to model addiction susceptibility in male high school students based on parental emotional tone and hostile attribution, mediated by Behavioral Activation/Inhibition Systems (BAS/BIS). This correlational study employed structural equation modeling. The statistical population consisted of male high school students in Tehran (2023–2024), from which 590 participants were selected via convenience sampling. Research instruments included the Addiction Susceptibility Questionnaire, the Family Emotional Expressiveness Scale, the Hostile Attribution Questionnaire, and the Behavioral Activation/Inhibition Scale. Data were analyzed using SPSS and AMOS, and indirect effects were tested through bootstrapping. The proposed model demonstrated acceptable fit. Parental emotional tone and hostile attribution significantly predicted addiction susceptibility. BIS showed a significant negative effect, whereas BAS components exerted significant positive effects on addiction susceptibility. Positive emotional expression and parental intimacy indirectly reduced addiction susceptibility via increased BIS, while negative emotional expression and hostile attribution indirectly increased susceptibility through heightened BAS. Hostile attribution was the strongest direct predictor of addiction vulnerability. Parental emotional and cognitive patterns influence adolescent addiction susceptibility through behavioral regulatory systems. Enhancing BIS functioning, reducing BAS overactivation, promoting emotional regulation skills, and decreasing hostile attribution may serve as effective components of school-based prevention programs.
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Copyright (c) 1404 Sabina Nobari (Author); Mahtab Moraveji (Corresponding author); Mansour Ali Mahdi, Mehrdad Sabet, Amin Rafiepoor (Author)

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