Depressive and socially anxious symptoms, psychosocial maturity, and risk perception: Associations with risk-taking behaviour

Adam N Pailing and Renate L E P Reniers

PLOS ONE, 2018, vol. 13, issue 8, 1-16

Abstract: Risk-taking behaviour and onset of mental illness peak in adolescence and young adulthood. This study evaluated the interconnectedness of the domains of risk-taking behaviour, mental health (symptoms of depression and social anxiety), psychosocial maturity, risk perception, age, and gender in a sample of 306 adolescents and young adults. Participants between the ages of 16 and 35 completed online self-report measures assessing risk-taking behaviour, depressive symptoms, socially anxious symptoms, psychosocial maturity and risk perception. Socially anxious symptoms, psychosocial maturity, and risk perception were directly associated with risk-taking behaviour. Correlations between depressive symptoms, socially anxious symptoms, and psychosocial maturity were found. Psychosocial maturity proved a better predictor of risk-taking behaviour than age in this cohort. The findings indicate that mental health impacts upon risk-taking behaviour and that consideration should be given to psychosocial maturity in attempts to reduce adolescent and young adult risk-taking behaviour.

Date: 2018
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:plo:pone00:0202423

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0202423

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