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01-12-2014

Analogue Study of Peer Influence on Risk-Taking Behavior in Older Adolescents

Authors: Elizabeth K. Reynolds, Laura MacPherson, Sarah Schwartz, Nathan A. Fox, C. W. Lejuez

Published in: Prevention Science | Issue 6/2014

Abstract

This experimental study aimed to examine whether adolescents act in a riskier manner in the presence of peers and whether peer presence alone influences risk behavior or if a direct influence process is necessary. Utilizing a behavioral task assessing risk-taking, 183 older adolescents (18–20 year olds) came to the laboratory alone once and then were randomized to one of three conditions as follows: alone, peers present, and peers encouraging. An interaction was found such that at baseline, there were no significant differences between the three conditions, but at the experimental session, there was a significant increase in risk task scores particularly for the encouraging condition. These findings challenge proposed models of the interaction between peer influence and risk taking by providing evidence that adolescents take more risks when being encouraged by peers, but that the presence of peers on its own does not lead to more risks than when completing the task alone.

In addition to these demographics variables, potential moderators were considered including resistance to peer influence, friendship quality, and risk-taking behavior. None were significant and thus results are not presented here.

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Title: Analogue Study of Peer Influence on Risk-Taking Behavior in Older Adolescents
Authors: Elizabeth K. Reynolds
Laura MacPherson
Sarah Schwartz
Nathan A. Fox
C. W. Lejuez
Publication date: 01-12-2014
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Prevention Science / Issue 6/2014
Print ISSN: 1389-4986
Electronic ISSN: 1573-6695
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-013-0439-x

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Analogue Study of Peer Influence on Risk-Taking Behavior in Older Adolescents

Abstract

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Abstract

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