SELF-REPORTED DEPRESSION AND RISK-TAKING BEHAVIORS AMONG HISPANIC ADOLESCENTS

In assessing the relationships between self-reported depression and ce rtain key risk-taking behaviors among a national sample of Hispanic ad olescents (N=935, ages 12 to 19 years), girls who reported depression were significantly more likely to engage in these behaviors than girls who did not report depression. No sig- nificant differences were foun d among boys (n=470), although they were more likely than girls (n=465 ) to take risks regardless of depressive state. These result suggest t hat depressive symptoms may be a marker for engagement in risk-taking behaviors among Hispanic girls.