Impulsivity and Risk-Taking Behavior in School-Going Adolescents.

Abstract

Introduction Impulsivity (or impulsiveness)and risk-takingbehavioraresignificant concernsas the adolescent population is at a higher risk of injuriesandviolence, unhealthy sexualbehaviors, and drug- and alcohol-related problems.The early identification of thesetraits in adolescentscan prove beneficialthroughtimely interventions. Thisstudywas conducted to assess impulsivebehaviorand risk-takingbehavioramong school-going adolescents in New Delhi, India, and to study the association, if any, betweenthe two. Methodology Across-sectional study was conductedamong571students of classes 9th-10thinthree randomlyselected schools ina part of Delhi, India.Barratt Impulsiveness Scale - Brief (BIS-Brief) was used to evaluate impulsivity, and risk-takingbehaviorwas assessed using the RT-18 tool. Results The majority (72.3%) of the571students were aged 14-15 years.Among the students, 56.0%were males.The impulsivity score obtained ranged from 8 to 30, with a mean score of 15.7 (SD ±4.1).The risk-takingscoreranged from 2 to 18, with a mean score of 9.9 (SD ±2.9). Impulsivity was seen to be significantly higher among the female students (p=0.004). The risk-taking behavior was significantly higher among the students from government schools, among the females, and among those who used the internet more. There was a significant direct association between impulsivity and risk-takingbehavior among the students(correlation coefficient 0.301, p<0.001). Conclusion The study results showed that themeanimpulsivity and risk-taking scores were comparable to other studies in adolescent age groups done internationally using the same tools. Impulsivity and risk-taking behavior were both found to be higher among females.Therewas a significant direct association between impulsivity and risk-taking.