Familial influences on risk-taking behavior of youth

Amenla Nuken, International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS)

Nagaland is undergoing cultural transition from traditional isolated conservative society to a more open modern day society. Topographically the state has an easy access to the so called golden triangle infamous for drugs. It is perceived and believed that modernization and proximity to illegal drug sources have exposed more youths in the state to smoking, alcohol, drugs and unprotected sex. Under the prevailing circumstances, family and parental care plays a vital role to protect the growing number of youths from risk behavior. Keeping this view in this paper, an attempt is made to explore the association between parental attributes related to child rearing, religiosity, living arrangement, drinking habits and involvement of youth in risk taking behavior of substance use and unprotected sex. The study is based on primary data and our results substantiate the fact that familial attributes do matters significantly when it comes to risk behavior of youth.