RISK-PERCEPTION - DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ADOLESCENTS AND ADULTS

This study investigated age changes in risk perception and unrealistic optimism. Teenagers (n = 376) and parents (n = 160) evaluated the ris k of experimental, occasional, and regular involvement in 14 health-re lated activities (e.g., getting drunk). Respondents also evaluated the ir comparative chances of encountering the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. Compared with adults, teenagers minimized the perceive d risk of experimental and occasional involvement in health-threatenin g activities. Notably, teenagers were less optimistic about avoiding i njury and illness than were their parents, and teenagers at greatest r isk for such misfortunes were the least optimistic about avoiding them . These findings do not support traditional explanations of adolescent risk taking. The implications of these findings for understanding and preventing health-damaging behavior among adolescents are discussed.