Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Predicting adolescent risk behavior using a personalized cost-benefit analysis

  • Published:
Journal of Youth and Adolescence Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Risk was investigated from the subjective viewpoints of adolescents, with the aim of assessing adolescents' perceptions of what constitutes risky behavior and how risk behaviors and risk judgments relate. Participants were 570 school-based adolescents. Students named risky behaviors perceived as common to similarly aged peers, then rated level of engagement in these behaviors. The perceived positive and negative outcomes of risk were also nominated, and rated on perceived likelihood and desirability/undesirability. The sample viewed risky behaviors as smoking, drinking alcohol, dangerous driving, taking drugs, criminal behavior, sporting risks, antisocial behavior, minor rebellion, school-related risks, and sexual activity. Negative outcomes of risk were categorized as death, disablement, punishment, and social consequences. Payoffs included pleasure, material gain, and avoidance of negative outcomes. There was a consistent pattern of relationships between risk participation and outcome judgment, with perceived pleasantness and likelihood of positive outcomes, and unpleasantness of negative outcomes, strongly associated with behavior.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adler, N., Kegeles, S. M., and Genevro, J. L. (1992). Risk-taking and health. In Yates, J. F. (ed.),Risk-Taking Behavior. Wiley, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Alexander, C. S., Kim, Y. J., Ensminger, M., Johnson, K. E., Smith, B. J., and Dolan, L. J. (1990). A measure of risk-taking for young adolescents: Reliability and validity assessments.J. Youth Adolesc. 19: 559–569.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ajzen, I., and Fishbein, M. (1980).Understanding Attitudes and Predicting Social Behavior. Prentice-Hall, Englewood-Cliffs, NJ.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ajzen, I., and Madden, T. J. (1986). Prediction of goal directed behavior: Attitudes, intentions, and perceived behavioral control.J. Exp. Social Psychol. 22: 453–474.

    Google Scholar 

  • Arnett, J. (1992). Reckless behavior in adolescence: A developmental perspective.Develop. Rev. 12: 339–373.

    Google Scholar 

  • Atkins, W J., Leder, G. C., O'Halloran, P. J., Pollard, G. H., and Taylor, P. (1991). Measuring risk-taking.Educat. Studies Math. 22: 297–308.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baumrind, D. (1991). The influence of parenting style on adolescent competence and substance use.J. Early Adolesc. 11: 56–95.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bell, N. J., and Bell, R. W. (eds.) (1993).Adolescent Risk Taking. Sage, Newbury Park, CA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Benthin, A., Slovic, P., and Severson, H. (1993). A psychometric study of adolescent risk perception.J. Adolesc. 16: 153–168.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Beyth-Marom, R., Austin, L., Fischhoff, B., Palmgren, C., and Jacobs-Quadrel, M. (1993). Perceived consequences of risky behaviors: Adults and adolescents.Develop. Psychol. 29: 549–563.

    Google Scholar 

  • Block, J., Block, J. H., and Keyes, S. (1988). Longitudinally foretelling drug usage in adolescence: Early childhood personality and environmental precursors.Child Develop. 59: 336–366.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Boldero, J., Moore, S., and Rosenthal, D. (1992). Intentions, context and safe sex: Australian adolescents' responses to AIDS.J. Appl. Social Psychol 22: 1375–1397.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chassin, L., Presson, C. C., and Sherman, S. (1989). Constructive vs. destructive deviance in adolescent health-related behaviors.J. Youth Adolesc. 18: 245–262.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gardner, W. (1993). A life-span rational-choice theory of risk-taking. In Bell, N. J., and Bell, R. W. (eds.),Adolescent Risk-Taking. Sage, Newbury Park, CA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gorsuch, R. L., and Butler, M. C. (1976). Initial drug abuse: A review of psychological factors.Psychol. Bull. 83: 120–137.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jaccard, J., and Davidson, A. R. (1972). Toward an understanding of family planning behaviors: An initial investigation.J. Appl. Social Psychol. 2: 228–235.

    Google Scholar 

  • Janz, N., and Becker, M. H. (1984). The Health Belief Model: A decade later.Health Educat. Quart. 11: 1–47.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jessor, S. L., and Jessor, R. (1977).Problem Behavior and Psychosocial Development: A Longitudinal Study of Youth. Academic Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kandel, D. B. (1980). Drug and drinking behavior among youth.Ann. Rev. Sociol. 6: 235–285.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lavery, B., and Siegel, A. W. (1993). Adolescent risk-taking: An analysis of problem behaviors in problem children.J. Exp. Child Psychol. 35: 277–294.

    Google Scholar 

  • Levitt, M. Z., Selman, R. L., and Richmond, J. B. (1991). The psychosocial foundations of early adolescents' high-risk behavior: Implications for research and practice.J. Res. Adolesc. 1: 349–378.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lyng, S. (1993). Dysfunctional risk-taking: Criminal behavior as edgework. In Bell, N. J., and Bell, R. W. (eds.)Adolescent Risk Taking. Sage, Newbury Park, CA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Metzler, C. W., Noell, J., and Biglan, A. (1992). The validation of a construct of high-risk sexual behavior in heterosexual adults.J. Adolesc. Res. 7: 233–249.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moore, S., and Rosenthal, D. (1992). Australian adolescents' perceptions of health related risks.J. Adolesc. Res. 7: 177–191.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moore, S., and Rosenthal, D. (1993). Venturesomeness, impulsiveness, and risky behavior among older adolescents.Percep. Motor Skills 76: 98.

    Google Scholar 

  • O'Connell, J. K., Price, J. H., Roberts, S. M., Jurs, S. G., and McKinley, R. (1985). Utilizing the health belief model to predict dieting and exercising behavior of obese and non-obese adolescents.Health Educat. Quart. 12: 343–351.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosenthal, D., Hall, C., and Moore, S. (1992). AIDS, adolescents and sexual risk-taking: A test of the Health Beliefs model.Austral. Psychol. 27: 166–171.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tonkin, R. S. (1987). Adolescent risk-taking behavior.J. Adolesc. Health Care 8: 213–220.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Weisenberg, M., Kegeies, S. S., and Lund, A. K. (1980). Children's health beliefs and acceptance of a dental preventive activity.J. Health Social Behav. 229: 59–74.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yates, J. F. (Ed.). (1992).Risk-Taking Behavior. Wiley, New York.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Victoria University of Technology, St. Albans Campus, 3021, St. Albans, Victoria, Australia

    Susan Moore (Professor)

  2. Department of Psychology, Monash University, Clayton Campus, 3167, Clayton, Victoria, Australia

    Eleonore Gullone (Senior Lecturer)

Authors
  1. Susan Moore
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Eleonore Gullone
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

This research was supported by the Australian Rotary Health Research Fund.

Received Ph.D. from Florida State University. Research interests: adolescent development, risk taking, and sexuality.

Received Ph.D. from Monash University. Research interests: adolescent development, emotional development, and families.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Moore, S., Gullone, E. Predicting adolescent risk behavior using a personalized cost-benefit analysis. J Youth Adolescence 25, 343–359 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01537389

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01537389

Keywords

Search

Navigation