Beauty, Underage Drinking, and Adolescent Risky Behaviours

Colin Green (), Luke B. Wilson () and Anwen Zhang
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Luke B. Wilson: University of Sheffield

No 15106, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: Physically attractive individuals experience a range of advantages in adulthood including higher earnings; yet, how attractiveness influences earlier consequential decisions is not well understood. This paper estimates the effect of attractiveness on engagement in risky behaviours in adolescence. We find marked effects across a range of risky behaviours with notable contrasts. More attractive adolescents are more likely to engage in underage drink- ing; while they are less likely to smoke, use drugs, or practice unprotected sex. Investigation into the underlying channels reveals that popularity, self-esteem, and personality attractiveness have roles as mechanisms. Our findings suggest physical attractiveness in adolescence carries long-lasting consequences over the life course.

Keywords: adolescent development; risky behaviours; beauty (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I12 J10 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 50 pages
Date: 2022-02
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-hea and nep-lab
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Published - published in: Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 2023, 215, 153 - 166

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Related works:
Journal Article: Beauty, underage drinking, and adolescent risky behaviours (2023)
Working Paper: Beauty, Underage Drinking, and Adolescent Risky Behaviours (2023)
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