Received: 27. 04. 2009 Accepted: 12. 06. 2009 Original article Abstract This project researches whether risk factors within family have any predictive power in describing youth behavioural problems. Family risk factors such as family functioning problems and conflicts within family have the strongest predictive power. Preventive actions and treatment must be directed toward the youth living in risky families. Key words: behavioural problems, risk factors, family. (ProQuest: ... denotes non-US-ASCII text omitted.) Introduction In the last few decades, there has been an increase in youth behavioral problems here and in the rest of the world. It is of grave concern that behavioral problems are affecting more and more children of young ages; and consequently the chances of such behavior developing later into delinquent behavior as the worst type of behavioral problem have significantly increased. Laucht and associates, (1997) and Yoshikawa (1994) emphasize that behavioral problems are caused by a number of different factors, all of which disrupt healthy development of a child or young person, as well as exacerbate further development of existing problems (1). Researchers today are trying to discover what factors influence children and young adults to choose forms of unacceptable behavior, to develop negative identity, and generally exhibit unsuccessful social behavior. Today, these and other factors are considered risk factors, which can during a particular period, within a particular environment, situation, specific relationships and personal characteristics significantly contribute to emergence and development of behavioral problems with children and youth (2). Mrazek and Haggerty (1994) emphasize that risk factors are broadly defined as those characteristics, which, if present, can increase possibility of development of a problem with individuals that posses them opposed to those that do not (3). Different research efforts categorize risk factors differently. They vary from biological and family to wider surrounding settings including school. For the purpose of this research the most important are the risk factors within family. The family as child's primary surroundings and being dysfunctional as such is most commonly linked to behavioral problems and represents a special interest of the scientific community. Therefore, family as an institution becomes an important risk and safety factor influencing child's behavioral. The most common risk factors within family surroundings linked to behavioral problems are: family history of troubled behavior, problems in normal functioning of a family, conflicts within family, and attitudes within family which support behavioral problems. Lackovikj-Grgin argue that particular family circumstances are considered as causes of behavioral problems at children, fragmentation of the family, incompleteness, change of living areas and so forth (4). Family is one of the frequently discussed factors, especially within the realm of the effects of parental control or supervision (5). Kumpfer points out that lack of adequate parental supervision of children can increase child's susceptibility to deviant peer pressure and use of alcohol and other drugs (6). Through their research Harrison, Bach-Harrison, Gisseman have found out that youth living in families with high level of conflict within family have higher probability of exhibiting behavioral problems such as delinquency, drug abuse and other problems, rather than their peers living in families with low level of conflict within family (7). Webster-Stratton indicate that particular family characteristics such as low income lead to development of behavioral problems with children (8). Same authors point out that presence of this factor is especially strong when combined with other factors such as: low level of education of parents, family isolation, and presence of stress, single parent household, parents' psychiatric problems, parental discord and depression. …