Gender Differences in Relationship Between Family Functioning and Risky Behaviors of Adolescents in China

Ju HUANG; Mingxia JI; Li LIN; Liqing YAO; Xinli CHI

doi:10.1177/02724316251355489

Gender Differences in Relationship Between Family Functioning and Risky Behaviors of Adolescents in China

Ju HUANG, Mingxia JI, Li LIN, Liqing YAO, Xinli CHI^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Lingnan University

Research output: Journal Publications › Journal Article (refereed) › peer-review

Abstract

This study investigates gender differences in the longitudinal relationship between family functioning and risky behaviors among Chinese adolescents. A total of 1301 participants (mean age: 12.46 ± 0.63; boys: 51.2%) were assessed at three time points, one year apart. Using a cross-lagged panel model, the study identifies a cycle where risky behaviors negatively predict family functioning, which in turn negatively predict risky behaviors. Additionally, the results of subgroup analysis revealed the possibility that the associations between family functioning and risky behaviors differ by gender. For girls, there was a bidirectional negative association between family functioning and risky behaviors. In contrast, for boys, only risky behaviors at T2 negatively predicted family functioning at T3. These findings emphasize the need for personalized education and interventions by parents and educators. For boys, managing risky behaviors appropriately is crucial, while interventions for girls should emphasize both improving family functioning and reducing risky behaviors simultaneously.

Original language	English
Article number	02724316251355489
Journal	The Journal of Early Adolescence
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/02724316251355489
Publication status	E-pub ahead of print - 2 Jul 2025

Bibliographical note

The authors would like to express their sincere appreciation and gratitude to Dr Xinli Chi and Dr Li Lin for their guidance and support. We also sincerely appreciate the editors and reviewers for their patient guidance in improving this article. Their invaluable input significantly enhanced the quality and depth of this manuscript. We are grateful to all participants in this study.

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2025

Funding

The authors disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This research was supported by Humanities and Social Sciences of Ministry of Education Planning Foundation (Grant 23YJA190002), Guangdong Philosophy and Social Science Planning 2023 Co-construction Project (Grant GD23XXL17), Revitalization Project of Humanities & Social Sciences, Shenzhen University (Grant WKZX0311), Youth Research Project of Shenzhen University 2035 Outstanding Research Plan (Grant ZYQN2311), Special Funding Project of Guangdong Provincial Education Science Planning “Enhancement Program for Research Ability of Primary and Secondary School Teachers” (Grant 2021YQJK580) and Educational Science Planning Project of Guangming District, Shenzhen City (Grant GMJKYM2021MS006).

Keywords

family functioning
risky behaviors
gender difference
adolescent
cross-lagged

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1177/02724316251355489

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/02724316251355489

Cite this

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title = "Gender Differences in Relationship Between Family Functioning and Risky Behaviors of Adolescents in China",

abstract = "This study investigates gender differences in the longitudinal relationship between family functioning and risky behaviors among Chinese adolescents. A total of 1301 participants (mean age: 12.46 ± 0.63; boys: 51.2\%) were assessed at three time points, one year apart. Using a cross-lagged panel model, the study identifies a cycle where risky behaviors negatively predict family functioning, which in turn negatively predict risky behaviors. Additionally, the results of subgroup analysis revealed the possibility that the associations between family functioning and risky behaviors differ by gender. For girls, there was a bidirectional negative association between family functioning and risky behaviors. In contrast, for boys, only risky behaviors at T2 negatively predicted family functioning at T3. These findings emphasize the need for personalized education and interventions by parents and educators. For boys, managing risky behaviors appropriately is crucial, while interventions for girls should emphasize both improving family functioning and reducing risky behaviors simultaneously.",

keywords = "family functioning, risky behaviors, gender difference, adolescent, cross-lagged",

author = "Ju HUANG and Mingxia JI and Li LIN and Liqing YAO and Xinli CHI",

note = "The authors would like to express their sincere appreciation and gratitude to Dr Xinli Chi and Dr Li Lin for their guidance and support. We also sincerely appreciate the editors and reviewers for their patient guidance in improving this article. Their invaluable input significantly enhanced the quality and depth of this manuscript. We are grateful to all participants in this study. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Author(s) 2025",

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AU - HUANG, Ju

AU - JI, Mingxia

AU - LIN, Li

AU - YAO, Liqing

AU - CHI, Xinli

N1 - The authors would like to express their sincere appreciation and gratitude to Dr Xinli Chi and Dr Li Lin for their guidance and support. We also sincerely appreciate the editors and reviewers for their patient guidance in improving this article. Their invaluable input significantly enhanced the quality and depth of this manuscript. We are grateful to all participants in this study. Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2025

PY - 2025/7/2

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N2 - This study investigates gender differences in the longitudinal relationship between family functioning and risky behaviors among Chinese adolescents. A total of 1301 participants (mean age: 12.46 ± 0.63; boys: 51.2%) were assessed at three time points, one year apart. Using a cross-lagged panel model, the study identifies a cycle where risky behaviors negatively predict family functioning, which in turn negatively predict risky behaviors. Additionally, the results of subgroup analysis revealed the possibility that the associations between family functioning and risky behaviors differ by gender. For girls, there was a bidirectional negative association between family functioning and risky behaviors. In contrast, for boys, only risky behaviors at T2 negatively predicted family functioning at T3. These findings emphasize the need for personalized education and interventions by parents and educators. For boys, managing risky behaviors appropriately is crucial, while interventions for girls should emphasize both improving family functioning and reducing risky behaviors simultaneously.

AB - This study investigates gender differences in the longitudinal relationship between family functioning and risky behaviors among Chinese adolescents. A total of 1301 participants (mean age: 12.46 ± 0.63; boys: 51.2%) were assessed at three time points, one year apart. Using a cross-lagged panel model, the study identifies a cycle where risky behaviors negatively predict family functioning, which in turn negatively predict risky behaviors. Additionally, the results of subgroup analysis revealed the possibility that the associations between family functioning and risky behaviors differ by gender. For girls, there was a bidirectional negative association between family functioning and risky behaviors. In contrast, for boys, only risky behaviors at T2 negatively predicted family functioning at T3. These findings emphasize the need for personalized education and interventions by parents and educators. For boys, managing risky behaviors appropriately is crucial, while interventions for girls should emphasize both improving family functioning and reducing risky behaviors simultaneously.

KW - family functioning

KW - risky behaviors

KW - gender difference

KW - adolescent

KW - cross-lagged

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U2 - 10.1177/02724316251355489

DO - 10.1177/02724316251355489

M3 - Journal Article (refereed)

SN - 0272-4316

JO - The Journal of Early Adolescence

JF - The Journal of Early Adolescence

M1 - 02724316251355489

ER -

Gender Differences in Relationship Between Family Functioning and Risky Behaviors of Adolescents in China

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

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