The Moderating Role of Present and Future Hope in the Relationship Between Parental Attachment, School Attachment and Risky Behaviors in Adolescent Girls

This study explores the connections between parental attachment, school attachment, present hope, future hope, and risky behaviors in adolescent girls. With a sample of 665 participants averaging 14.825 years old (SD = 1.819) in Hong Kong, the research addresses gaps by examining how present and future hope moderate the relationship between attachments and risky behaviors. Earlier studies mostly focused on the direct impact of parental and school attachments on adolescent behavior, often missing the subtle moderating roles of hope. Our results show that both parental and school attachments significantly affect levels of present and future hope, which in turn influence risky behaviors differently. Specifically, higher levels of parental attachment (β = 0.149, p < 0.01) and school attachment (β = 0.180, p < 0.01) are associated with higher levels of present hope, while parental attachment (β = 0.226, p < 0.01) and school attachment (β = 0.236, p < 0.01) also positively influence future hope. Interestingly, present hope was not significantly related to risky behaviors (β = -0.011, p > 0.05), but future hope was found to increase risky behaviors (β = 0.146, p < 0.01) through its interaction with school attachment. This intricate dynamic emphasizes the necessity of a balanced approach in nurturing hope among adolescents. © 2024 Nova Science Publishers, Inc.