Predicting Harmful Behavioral Patterns Based on Positive Psychological States in Male Students

Due to extensive changes and high structural vulnerability, adolescence is a time of behavioral disorders (including internalized and externalized) that have adverse effects on students' academic and social performance. The present study aimed to predict behavioral disorders in male high school students based on the components of positive psychological states (based on the positive psychology approach) in order to explain the role of these components as protective factors. This study is applied in terms of purpose and descriptive in terms of method. The statistical population included all male high school students in Mashhad District 2 in the academic year 1403-1404 (about 2500 people), of whom 320 were selected using convenience sampling. The research tools included the Positive Psychological States Questionnaire (Rajaee et al, 2012) and the Achenbach Child Behavior Inventory (1991). The data were analyzed using Pearson's correlation coefficient and multiple regression analysis in a simultaneous manner. The results of Pearson's correlation coefficient showed that behavioral problems have an inverse and significant correlation with all components of positive psychological states (trust in God, conscientiousness, life satisfaction, positive mood and happiness, sociability and appreciation). The results of multiple regression analysis showed that among the positive psychological components, only the variables of conscientiousness, appreciation, and sociability have a significant and negative contribution in predicting students' behavioral disorders. The highest predictive power belonged to conscientiousness, sociability, and contractualization, respectively.