Risky behaviours, psychological resilience and school belonging of adolescents with intact and non-intact families: A moderated mediation model

Family is a critical socialising agent for a child’s mental health and development. Research indicates that non-intact family structures – those characterised by separation, divorce or parental absence – are associated with heightened psychological and behavioural challenges in children, including depression, anxiety, stress, school refusal, antisocial behaviours and diminished problem-solving skills. Non-intact families may predispose children to engage in risky behaviours, undermining their psychological resilience and school belonging. While there is some evidence that risky behaviours are associated with belonging problems, there remains a gap in understanding how psychological resilience mediates this relationship across different family structures. This cross-sectional study investigated the mediating role of psychological resilience and the moderating effect of family status (intact vs. non-intact) in the relationship between risky behaviours and school belonging. The sample comprised 362 high school students (Grades 9–12; 61.3% female) selected through convenience sampling. Data were collected using the Risky Behaviour Scale, School Belonging Scale and Child and Youth Psychological Resilience Scale. Results revealed that psychological resilience significantly mediates the relationship between risky behaviours and school belonging, with family status moderating this mediation effect. These findings underscore the importance of fostering psychological resilience, particularly among adolescents from non-intact families, to mitigate the adverse effects of risky behaviours on school belonging.