Protective behaviour in adolescent friendships: the influence of attitudes towards the consequences, friendship norms and perceived control

The current study sought to understand adolescent protective behaviour in friendship using a Theory of Planned Behaviour framework. In particular, the study sought to consider a young persons' direct and active intervention to inhibit their friends' risky behaviour or to assist them when the behaviour leads to injury. The role of attitudes regarding the consequences, norms and control about protective behaviour were examined both qualitatively through focus groups (n=50) and quantitatively through surveys from a sample of 540, Year 9 students (13-14 years old). There was some support for the theory with attitudes regarding the consequences of the behaviour and norms predicting intended protective behaviour. A path analysis was conducted with a subsample of 140 students which showed that intentions to be protective and perceived control to undertake protective behaviour directly predicted such behaviour after a 3-month interval. Attitudes towards the consequences and norms only indirectly predicted protective behaviour via intention. The findings provide important applied information for interventions designed to increase adolescent protective behaviour in their friendships.