Associations Between Parental Monitoring and Health Risk Behaviors Among Mongolian Adolescents
- VernacularTitle:Монголын өсвөр үеийнхний эрүүл мэндийн эрсдэлт зан үйл ба эцэг эхийн хяналт хоорондын хамаарлыг үнэлэх нь
- Author:
Bayarjargal Uuganbayar
1
;
Bettina F Piko
2
Author Information
1. Doctoral School of Education, University of Szeged, Hungary
2. Doctoral School of Education, University of Szeged, Hungary;Department of Behavioral Sciences, University of Szeged, Hungary
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
adolescents;
risky behavior;
sexual behavior;
substance use;
parental monitoring
- From:Mongolian Medical Sciences
2025;212(2):30-41
- CountryMongolia
- Language:Mongolian
-
Abstract:
Background:Adolescents’ health risk behaviors tend to increase during the high school years. Parental
control from the family may serve as protective factors against substance use and early
sexual activity.
Aim:In this study, we aim to examine the prevalence of health-risk behaviors, namely alcohol
consumption, tobacco use, and risky sexual practices among Mongolian adolescents, and to
evaluate the impact of parental monitoring on these behaviors.
Method:Participants of this cross-sectional survey were Mongolian adolescents (N = 312) from 9th to
12th grades of high schools living in provinces. The self-completed questionnaire included
items on the students’ sexual behavior and substance use (Health Behavior in School
aged Children, HBSC study; Inchley et al., 2018) and parental control (Parental Monitoring
Instrument; Cottrell et al., 2007).
Results:Seven forms of parental monitoring were measured: direct and indirect, school, health,
computer, phone, and restrictive monitoring. The parents’ indirect monitoring declined with
age (r =-0.12, p <0.05). Among the forms of parental control, phone monitoring showed
the strongest correlations with adolescent behaviors: having a boy or girlfriend (r = -0.25, p
<0.001) and having sexual intercourse (r =-0.21, p <0.001). Besides, restrictive monitoring
also played a role in having a boy or girlfriend (r = -15, p <0.01) and previous sexual
experiences (r = -11, p<0.05).
Conclusion:Parental monitoring might play a lesser role in adolescent substance use as we expected.
In contrast, certain form of parental control, namely, phone and restrictive monitoring might
prevent adolescents from early sexual activity.
- Full text:2025122317385233129MAUS-2025-212(2)-30-41.pdf
