Adolescent risk-taking: an analysis of problem behaviors in problem children.
In this study adolescent risk-taking is explored from several theoretical positions: Jessor's problem-behavior perspective, risk-taking as normal and adaptive, adolescent egocentrism, and a decision-making perspective. Adolescents (ages 11-17) referred to mental health clinics (N = 80) completed a risk involvement and perception questionnaire, the Jesness Personality Inventory, and a measure of adolescent egocentrism. For purposes of concurrent validity, a diagnosis was completed by the subject's clinic therapist. As predicted, both Benefit and Risk Perception were significantly correlated with Involvement (in opposite directions), supportive of a decision-making perspective. A configuration of social maladjustment personality correlates in conjunction with a diagnosis of Conduct Disorder showed a strong, positive correlation with Involvement, supporting a problem-behavior perspective. Egocentrism measures were not significantly related to Risk Involvement or Risk and Benefit Perceptions. Adolescent risk-taking is argued to be a multidimensional phenomenon involving personality correlates and cognitive aspects of decision-making.
Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Texas 77204-5341.
B
B
Lavery
A W
AW
Siegel
J H
JH
Cousins
D S
DS
Rubovits
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010555:Personality Inventory; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D002666:Psychology, Child; D012309:Risk-Taking