The role of role models in mitigating risk behaviour: gender-(mis)match matters

Abstract

dolescent behaviour. Research on associations between role models and risk behaviour has been done only with small samples and is decades old, therefore lacking relevance for the adolescents of today. Methods. The study was conducted between April 2022 and June 2022. In total, 6557 adolescents (49% female) in grades 5, 7, 9, and 11 were surveyed via paper questionnaire. Risk behaviour was measured in 5 dimensions: smoking, vaping, cannabis smoking, alcohol consumption (past 30 days prevalence), and drunkenness (life prevalence). Prevalence of role model was assessed with 4 options available: no role model, female role model(s), male role model(s), and both female and male role models. Results. 71.2% of adolescents identified a role model. Role model prevalence was not associated with most risk behaviour (p > 0.05). Having both female and male role model(s) was associated with lower risk of tobacco smoking (OR = 1.37) and drunkenness during lifetime (OR = 1.25). For girls, gender-matching role model(s) prevalence was associated with lower risk to engage in tobacco smoking (OR = 1.57), vaping (OR = 1.37), and cannabis smoking (OR = 1.66), whereas gender-mismatching role model(s) prevalence only was not. For boys, gender-matching role model(s) prevalence was not associated with risk behaviour, gender-mismatching role model(s) prevalence only was associated with greater risk of tobacco smoking (OR = 1.92), vaping (OR = 2.38), cannabis smoking (OR = 2.09), alcohol consumption (OR = 1.60), and drunkenness (OR = 1.50). Conclusions. The association of role model prevalence with risk behaviour was moderated by the gender-(mis) match and differed between boys and girls. The study results suggest that boys do not benefit from gender-matching role model(s) prevalence whereas girls do. Gender-mismatching role model(s) prevalence only was associated with higher odds of engaging in risk behaviour for boys.