Extracurricular Activity Intensity and Adolescent Risk-Taking: Exploring Interactive Effects of Contextual Risk and Coping Efficacy

Heaslip, G.P. and Barber, B.L. (2017) Extracurricular Activity Intensity and Adolescent Risk-Taking: Exploring Interactive Effects of Contextual Risk and Coping Efficacy. The Educational and Developmental Psychologist, 34 (01). pp. 62-77.

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.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Murdoch Affiliation:	School of Psychology and Exercise Science
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Copyright:	© 2017 Australian Psychological Society Ltd
URI:	http://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/id/eprint/38283

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