NCJ Number
195459
Journal
Journal of Youth and Adolescence Volume: 31 Issue: 4 Dated: August 2002 Pages: 253-265
Date Published
August 2002
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This article discusses the predictors of risk and reckless behaviors in emerging adults, ages 18-25 years old.
Abstract
The authors of this journal article contend that research focusing on the psychosocial predictors of behavior problems tends to focus on the period of adolescence, excluding individuals who fall into the category of emerging adults. This article presents a study that explored risk and reckless behaviors in young adults, aged 18-25 years old. Focusing on two psychosocial predictors of problem behaviors, sensation seeking and peer pressure, the authors tested the predicative power of these two variables upon problem behaviors in emerging adults. Attempting to resolve conceptual ambiguities and method weaknesses of past research through wide sampling, clarifying conceptual distinctions, and controlling for nuisance variable, the researchers obtained data from 375 emerging adults. Results of Multivariate Analyses of Covariance (MANCOVA) demonstrated that risk behaviors were predicted by sensation seeking but not by antisocial peer pressure. Furthermore, reckless behaviors were predicted by peer pressure and not by sensation seeking. Tables, references