Participation In Risky Behaviors Research Articles

Heterosocial Behaviors in Early Adolescent African American Girls: The Role of Mother-Daughter Relationships

Recent epidemiological trends in HIV/AIDS have helped draw attention to minority adolescents as especially high risk for HIV acquisition. Research shows the importance of maternal-child closeness and sexual communication in decreasing adolescent risk behaviors. The information, motivation, behavioral skills model (IMB) formed the framework for this pilot study whose purpose was to examine the informational and motivational antecedents of heterosocial risks in African American middle-school-aged girls and the maternal influence on these risks. Thirty-nine mother-daughter dyads participated, of whom 54% were impoverished. The girls' intent to stay safe, perceived social norms, and closeness to mother were negatively correlated with reported participation in potentially risky situations. Early interventions may enhance mother-daughter bonding, increasing sexual communication, and decreasing girls' participation in risky behaviors. This pilot study provides direction regarding testing of the IMB model in studies focused on early adolescent behaviors and mother-daughter interactions.

Maternal employment and adolescent risky behavior

This paper examines the impact of maternal employment during a child’s first 3 years and during adolescence on his or her decisions to engage in a range of risky behaviors: smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol, using marijuana and other drugs, engaging in sex and committing crimes. Using data from the NLSY79 and its young adult supplement, we do not find strong evidence that mother’s employment—whether early in the child’s life or during adolescence—affects the likelihood of participation in risky behaviors. We note as a caveat, however, that insufficient statistical precision makes it difficult, at times, to distinguish some potentially important effects from effects that are essentially equal to zero.

Personality, puberty, and preadolescent girls’ risky behaviors: Examining the predictive value of the Five-Factor Model of personality

Few studies have considered the importance of personality characteristics in influencing young girls’ tendency to participate in health-compromising behaviors. The present study examined relations between 60 fifth grade girls’ ( mean age =10.72 years) self-reports and maternal reports of the Five-Factor Model of personality (FFM), pubertal development, and girls’ participation in risky behaviors one year later ( mean age =11.74 years). Results indicated that unconscientious and disagreeable girls were susceptible to participation in risky behaviors. These relations remained significant even after controlling for assessments of girls’ pubertal development. An interaction between girls’ openness to experience and pubertal development was found; girls who were open and who developed early were at risk for engaging in health-compromising behaviors. Findings are discussed in terms of their potential for helping health promotion efforts identify girls’ most at risk for adopting unhealthy behaviors.

Maternal Employment and Adolescent Risky Behavior

This paper examines the impact of maternal employment during a child's first three years and during adolescence on his or her decisions to engage in a range of risky behaviors: smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol, using marijuana and other drugs, engaging in sex and committing crimes. Using data from the NLSY79 and its young adult supplement, we find little evidence that mother's employment early in the child's life has lasting consequences on participation in risky behaviors. Similarly, with the possible exception of drinking alcohol - our results do not indicate that maternal employment during adolescence is correlated with increased involvement in risky activities.