Abstract

This study examines the role of personal values as potential risk or protective factors for risky behaviour in adolescence, analysing the relationships between values, the use of cannabis and the problematic use of smartphone. Three hundred and eight adolescents (66% females; Mage = 17.34, SDage = 1.42) were involved and asked to fill-in a self-report questionnaire. Findings showed that conservation values were negatively associated with cannabis use, while openness to change increased the risk of cannabis use. The problematic use of smartphone was, instead, negatively related to self-transcendence values and positively related to self-enhancement. The theoretical and practical implications of these results are discussed.