Comparison of Decision-Making Styles in Typical Adolescents and Adolescents with Risky Behaviors

Arman  Salehi; Mehdi  Aghaei Lomedasht; Emad  Panjahi; Javad  Jahedi; Sahar Salehinia

Authors

Arman Salehi Department of Psychology, WT.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran Author https://orcid.org/0009-0008-7793-8394
Mehdi Aghaei Lomedasht Department of Counseling, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran Author https://orcid.org/0009-0008-8218-5999
Emad Panjahi Department of Psychology, University of Bojnord, Bojnord, Iran Author https://orcid.org/0009-0001-9977-5003
Javad Jahedi Department of Counseling, Allameh Tabataba’i University, Tehran, Iran Author https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3553-8380
Sahar Salehinia Department of Counseling and Educational Psychology, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran Corresponding author https://orcid.org/0009-0008-7949-5494

Keywords:

decision, making styles, adolescence, risky behaviors

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to examine differences in decision-making styles between these two groups and to analyze their multidimensional decision-making patterns.

Materials and Methods: This applied study employed a causal–comparative and cross-sectional design. The statistical population consisted of adolescents aged 12 to 18 years residing in Tehran in 2025. Participants were selected using purposive sampling, and after applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 28 individuals were included in the study across two groups: typical adolescents and adolescents exhibiting risky behaviors. Data were collected using the General Decision-Making Styles Questionnaire developed by Scott & Bruce (GDMS). Data analysis was conducted using MANOVA, Welch ANOVA, and the nonparametric Kruskal–Wallis test. The significance level was set at 0.05.

Findings: The results of multivariate tests indicated a significant difference in the overall pattern of decision-making styles between the two groups (Pillai’s Trace = 0.936, F ≈ 63.87, p < 0.001). Univariate analyses revealed that adolescents with risky behaviors scored higher on intuitive, dependent, and spontaneous decision-making styles, whereas typical adolescents scored higher on the rational decision-making style (χ² ranging from 17.89 to 20.77, p < 0.001). The avoidant decision-making style showed no significant difference between the two groups (χ² = 0.85, p = 0.357). Demographic analyses further indicated that risky behaviors were more prevalent among younger adolescents (12–14 years) and those in lower secondary education, while economic status, gender, parental education, and parental employment did not show significant differences.

Conclusion: The findings suggest that adolescents with risky behaviors exhibit a distinct pattern of decision-making styles, characterized by a dominance of intuitive, dependent, and spontaneous styles and a weaker rational style. This pattern may be associated with an increased likelihood of engagement in risky behaviors. These results highlight the importance of considering decision-making styles in clinical assessments and in the design of cognitive–behavioral and preventive interventions for at-risk adolescents.

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Comparison of Decision-Making Styles in Typical Adolescents and Adolescents with Risky Behaviors

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