Características del funcionamiento familiar que predicen conductas de riesgo en adolescentes y sus familias

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is studying protective capabilities of families toward their children. A sample of 630 families with scholarized adolescents, representative of Santiago de Chile Metropolitan Region, were interviewed applying two questionnaires: “Como es Tu familia and Como es Su familia”. These instruments (previously validated in Chile) recollect data about family aspects. This information was correlated with the presence of adolescents risk behaviors during the last year.Through factor analysis four areas were identified as with predictive capacity of less frequency of risk behavior: family communication-connectedness, availability of family members, clear boundaries definition and role hierarchy and norm flexibility within the family system.