Child risk behaviour is a complex phenomenon influenced by numerous factors, both individual and social. The aim of this study was to examine the tendency toward risky behavior in younger adolescents and determine which individual and social risk factors contribute the most to the development of such behavior. Individual factors investigated included the contribution of self-esteem and academic achievement, while social factors included the contribution of family (parenting styles examined through dimensions of emotional warmth and psychological control, family structure, and socioeconomic status), peers (susceptibility to peer pressure), and school (perception of school culture). The research included 410 students (181 boys and 218 girls) in eighth grade from all primary schools in the Osijek area. They completed the following scales and questionnaires: Demographic data questionnaire, Youth self-reported delinquency and risk behaviors questionnaire (Ručević et al., 2009), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (Rosenberg, 1965), Scale of Perception of Family Relationships (Macuka, 2004), Peer Pressure Susceptibility Scale (Lebedina Manzoni et al., 2008) and School Culture Scale (Higgins-D'Alessandro et al., 1998). The results of this study show that boys were more engaged in misdemeanor and minor delinquent behaviors compared to girls, while girls were more prone to suicidal and selfaggressive behaviors compared to boys. Academic achievement proved to be a statistically significant negative predictor for most examined risky behaviors related to boys' externalized behavior problems, while for girls, it was a statistically significant predictor for internalized behavior problems. Self-esteem was a statistically significant negative predictor for suicidal and self-aggressive behaviors. Among social risk factors, peer pressure had the greatest predictive effect on the occurrence of risky behaviors, followed by parental psychological control and emotional warmth. School culture was associated with some forms of risky behaviors. The results of this research contribute to a better understanding of the relative importance of individual and social risk factors for the occurrence of risky behaviors in early adolescence. The findings of this research provide a foundation for the development of targeted preventive strategies and programs.