Extracurricular Activity Intensity and Adolescent Risk-Taking: Exploring Interactive Effects of Contextual Risk and Coping Efficacy. (17th March 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Heaslip, Gabriel P.; Barber, Bonnie L.
• Is Part Of: Educational and developmental psychologist. Volume 34:Number 1(2017)
• Page Start: 62
• Page End: 77
• Publication Date: 2017-03-17
• Subjects: adolescence, -- extracurricular activities, -- risk-taking, -- coping efficacy; School psychology -- Australia -- Periodicals; School psychology -- Periodicals; Educational psychology -- Australia -- Periodicals; Educational psychology -- Periodicals; Developmental psychology -- Australia -- Periodicals; Developmental psychology -- Periodicals; Periodicals; 370.150994
• DOI: 10.1017/edp.2016.19
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2059-0776

Abstract

Abstract : Adolescence is a period of heightened risk-taking. Therefore it is important to investigate positive settings that can facilitate healthy adolescent development and reduce risk-taking behaviour. This study investigated the relations between non-sporting extracurricular activity participation intensity and risky behaviour. Adolescents' coping efficacy was tested as a moderator between extracurricular activity participation and risk-taking among adolescents at different levels of contextual risk. Adolescents ( N = 1, 599) across Western Australia were surveyed. Results for moderately at-risk youth indicated a significant interaction, such that greater activity intensity was associated with less risk-taking for adolescents with higher coping efficacy. However, higher intensity activity participation predicted more risk-taking for adolescents with low coping efficacy.