THE INTERACTION OF AGE WITH IMPULSIVENESS AND VENTURESOMENESS IN THE PREDICTION OF ADOLESCENT SEXUAL-BEHAVIOR

The study examined differences between two groups of adolescent female s attending one of three clinics either for assessment for termination of a pregnancy or for contraceptive advice. Differences in Venturesom eness and Impulsiveness (Eysenck, Pearson, Easting & Allsopp, Personal ity and Individual Differences, 6, 613-619, 1985) and in Locus of Cont rol for Positive and Negative Outcomes (Brewin & Shapiro, British Jour nal of Psychology, 75, 43-49, 1984) were investigated as a function of reason for attending (termination or contraception) and age group (17 years or less, greater than 17 years). Significant differences in bot h Venturesomeness and Impulsiveness were found as a function of the in teraction between the two experimental factors. Younger subjects atten ding for termination were more impulsive than the other groups. In con tradiction of previous studies, older subjects attending for contracep tive advice were found to be significantly more venturesome than the o ther three groups. There was a trend for the older termination group t o score lower (more external) on locus of control for negative outcome s.