Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.5559/di.35.4.03
Parental and Peer Subjective Norms as Predictors of Adolescents' Risky Online Contacts: The Mediating Role of Behavioural Intention
Ivana Borić Letica
orcid.org/0009-0004-7484-3753
; Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Faculty of Education, Osijek, Croatia
*
Gordana Kuterovac Jagodić
; University of Zagreb, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Zagreb, Croatia
* Corresponding author.
Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine whether parental and peer subjective norms regarding adolescents' risky online contacts could predict their engagement in such contacts two months later, and to examine whether behavioural intention fully mediated these associations. The study included secondary school students and established instruments were used to assess parental and peer subjective norms,behavioural intention (at the first measurement point), and adolescents' risky behaviour (at the second measurement point). The results showed that the more strongly adolescents perceived parental and peer support for risky online behaviour, the more frequently they engaged in risky online contacts. Behavioural intention fully mediated the association between parental subjective norms and contact-related risky online behaviour, and partially mediated the association between peer subjective norms and contact-related risky online behaviour. The results highlight the importance of incorporating normative components into prevention programmes aimed at promoting safe online behaviour.
Keywords
adolescents; risky online contacts; parental and peer subjective norms; behavioural intention
Hrčak ID:
352972
URI
Publication date:
4.11.2026.
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