Journal of

Risk behaviors are more common in HIV-positive population than general population and are affected by various factors such as biological factors, lifestyle, family functioning and etc.. The aim of this research is to investigate how family functioning leads to risk behaviors in this population.
Methods: This research was conducted on 147 HIV-positive individuals and we used convenience sampling for data gathering. Sample size was chosen based on the questionnaire's subscales. We used Risk Behaviors Scale (RBS), FACESS, HPLP and balloon analogue risk test (BART), to assess risky decision making. The data were analyzed using Lisrel software and structural equation modeling method.
Findings: Findings suggests that there is a negative and meaningful relationship between family functioning and risk behaviors and un-direct effects were found because of two mediator factors of lifestyle and risky decision making.
Conclusion: Whatever family functioning becomes ameliorated, lifestyle improves and risky decision making declines and the possibility of risk behaviors will be reduced. Targeting family factors can be helpful to the interventions designed to reduce risk behaviors of HIV infected individuals.