The impact of the Dark Triad personalities and parental interaction patterns in predicting the tendency toward risky behaviors among adolescent girls in Ardabil, Iran in 2024

Background: The escalating prevalence of risky behaviors during adolescence has emerged as a grave threat to public health, posing one of the most significant psychological, social, and health-related challenges globally. These behaviors impact the individual and have negative consequences on families and society. As a pressing concern for communities, healthcare organizations, and social policymakers, identifying factors leading adolescents toward risky behaviors is paramount and urgent. Methods: This descriptive correlational study was conducted in Ardabil, Iran, in 2024. Using convenience sampling, 200 s-year high school girls with an average age of 17 were selected. Participants were asked to complete three questionnaires: the Dark Triad Personality Test, the Revised Family Communication Patterns Scale (RFCP), and the Questionnaire of Risky Behaviors (QRB). The data were analyzed using Pearson correlation and multiple regression analysis, utilizing SPSS version 20. Results: The findings revealed a significant positive correlation (p < 0.01) between machiavellianism, narcissism, psychopathy, and the conformity interaction pattern with a tendency toward risky behaviors in adolescents. Additionally, there was a significant negative correlation (p < 0.01) between the conversation interaction pattern and risky behaviors. The results further indicated that 30.4% (p < 0.01) of the variance in risky behavior tendencies in adolescent girls could be explained by the Dark Triad personality traits. In comparison, the interaction patterns of conversation and parental conformity could account for 37% (p < 0.01). Conclusions: This study suggests that the Dark Triad personality traits and parental interaction patterns can effectively predict adolescent girls’ tendencies toward risky behaviors. These results underscore the need for effective management strategies addressing these variables in school programs to provide early interventions that may prevent the escalation of risky behaviors among adolescents.