IMPULSIVENESS AND RISK-TAKING BEHAVIOR - COMPARISON OF HIGH-SCHOOL AND COLLEGE-STUDENTS USING THE BARRATT IMPULSIVENESS SCALE

The present study was undertaken in an attempt to determine the relati onship of impulsiveness to risk-taking behaviors such as aggression, d rug use, drunk driving and not wearing seatbelts among high-school and college students. The results of the study clearly demonstrate that h igh impulsives are involved in risk-taking behavior at a higher rate t han low impulsive subjects. These findings suggest that high impulsive adolescents and young adults are at considerable risk of personal inj ury and present a potential source of injury to others. It is suggeste d that self-report questionnaires of impulsiveness might prove useful in the early identification of these high risk individuals. Once ident ified these individuals could be targeted for intensive educational in terventions specifically designed to deal with their inability to dela y gratification and general lack of impulse control. Copyright (C) 199 6 Elsevier Science Ltd.