Associations between Relational Victimization and Positive and Negative Social Risk Taking in Adolescence

• In Event: Peers and Risky Behaviors

Abstract

In comparison to children and adults, adolescents are most likely to take risks (Duell & Steinberg, 2019). However, this is not necessarily adverse, as risks can be classified as both positive and negative. Literature examines reasons why adolescents are more prone to risk-taking behavior; with peer-related factors being one of the most common. Although many peer relationships provide friendship and support, others can be hurtful. Relational victimization, characterized by the removal or threat of removal of relationships, such as social exclusion or spreading rumors (Ostrov & Kamper, 2015), is of particular interest during adolescence, as social relationships among peers grow increasingly salient. The question is then raised of how relational victimization influences both positive and negative risk taking, particularly for social risks, during adolescence.
The sample included 167 adolescents (53% male, 78% White), measured annually five times over the course of six years (Mage at Time 1 = 15 years). Positive and negative social risk taking was measured at Times 1-5 using the Domain Specific Risk Taking scale (DOSPERT; Blais & Weber, 2006), with risk perceptions assessed at Times 1-3 and risk likelihood assessed at Times 4-5. Peer victimization at age 14, 15, and 16 was measured retrospectively at Times 4-5 using the Maltreatment and Abuse Chronology of Exposure scale (MACE; Teicher & Parigger, 2015). Bivariate growth curve modeling was used to simultaneously test the slopes and intercepts of social risk perception and relational victimization with young adult risk taking likelihood as a distal outcome, tested separately for positive and negative risks.
As shown in Table 1, in the positive social risk taking model, there was a significant association between the intercept of relational victimization and the slope of positive social risk perception, indicating that the riskier an adolescent perceived positive social risks in early adolescence, the slower the decline in relational victimization during middle adolescence. The significant association between the intercept of positive social risk perception and positive social risk taking at Times 4-5 indicated that greater risk perception at age 14 predicted decreased risk taking in young adulthood. In the negative social risk taking model, none of the paths between cross-construct growth factors were significant. However, the significant association between the slope of relational victimization and negative social risk taking at Times 4-5 indicated that slower decline of relational victimization during middle adolescence predicted greater risk taking in young adulthood. The significant association between the intercept of negative social risk perception and negative social risk taking at Times 4-5 indicated that greater risk perception at age 14 predicted less risk taking in young adulthood.
Adolescents with high positive risk-taking perception were more likely to experience continuing relational victimization during middle adolescence. Those with such persisting experiences of relational victimization during middle adolescence were more likely to take negative risks in young adulthood. Results highlight the relationship between adolescent risk perception and social experiences, while emphasizing the importance of understanding the differential effects of positive and negative risk taking in adolescence.

Authors

• Jordan Gamache, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
  Presenting Author

• Megan Egan, Virginia Tech

• Olivia Salazar

• Brooks King-Casas, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, and Virginia Tech

• Jungmeen Kim-Spoon, Virginia Tech