Adolescent Non-Involvement in Multiple Risk Behaviors: An Indicator of Successful Development?

Abstract

Based on the conceptualization of successful development as the joint maximization of desirable outcomes and minimization of undesirable outcomes (Baltes, 1997), the present study examined connections between adolescent non-involvement in multiple risk behaviors and positive developmental status. Results from a survey of 7290 high school students were used to define four profiles of risk behavior involvement (complete non-involvement, some involvement, some high-risk involvement, predominantly high-risk involvement) based on self-reported involvement in nine risk behaviors (alcohol, smoking, marijuana, hard drugs, sexual activity, minor and major delinquency, direct and indirect aggression). Groups were compared across intrapersonal (risk behavior attitudes, temperament, well-being, religiosity, academic orientation), interpersonal (parental relations, parental monitoring, friendship quality, victimization, unstructured activities), and environmental (school climate, neighborhood conditions) domains. Despite some similarities between the complete non-involvement and some involvement groups, the complete non-involvement group had the most positive self-reports compared to each of the other groups in each developmental domain. At the same time, higher levels of positive development were not exclusive to the complete non-involvement group. Implications for research and theory related to connections between adolescent non-involvement in risk behaviors and successful development are discussed.