en رفتارهای پرخطر High Risk Bbehavior Original Article <span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="line-height:115%"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="line-height:115%">Background:</span></span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="line-height:115%"> Adolescence is a period marked by increased vulnerability to high-risk behaviors, which pose substantial public health challenges due to a complex interplay of internal psychological and social factors. The present study sought to examine the predictive role of psychological distress and assertiveness in high-risk behaviors among female adolescents in Ahvaz, Iran.</span></span></span></span><br> <span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="line-height:115%"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="line-height:115%">Methods:</span></span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="line-height:115%"> This descriptive-correlational study was conducted during the 2024&ndash;2025 academic year. A sample of 272 female adolescents was selected via multistage cluster sampling. Instruments included the High-Risk Behavior Questionnaire, the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21), and the Assertion Inventory. Data analysis involved Pearson correlation coefficients and simultaneous multiple regression.</span></span></span></span><br> <span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="line-height:115%"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="line-height:115%">Results:</span></span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="line-height:115%"> Psychological distress emerged as a significant positive predictor of high-risk behaviors, whereas assertiveness exhibited a significant negative association with such behaviors (p<0.001). The multiple regression model was statistically significant (F=51.04, p<0.001), with psychological distress and assertiveness jointly explaining 31.8% of the variance in high-risk behaviors among the participants.</span></span></span></span><br> <span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="line-height:115%"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="line-height:115%">Conclusion:</span></span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="line-height:115%"> Psychological distress and diminished assertiveness represent key determinants of high-risk behaviors in female adolescents. Accordingly, school-based interventions emphasizing emotional regulation strategies and assertiveness skills training are recommended to reduce behavioral risks and promote overall adolescent well-being.</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="line-height:115%"><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times=""><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="line-height:115%"><span style="letter-spacing:-.2pt"></span></span></span></span></span></span><br> &nbsp; Risk-taking, Psychological distress, Assertiveness, Adolescent 0 0 http://sbrh.ssu.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-568-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Elham Jalaei jalaeielhm@gmail.com 0009-0005-9636-1859 Yes Department of Psychology, Ahv.C., Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran