Adolescents' perceptions of their risk environment

Employing a model of risk perception, 650 adolescents (347 girls) rated 10 activities including drug an alcohol use, unprotected sexual intercourse and driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol in six domains: perceived risk to the self; perceived risk to peers; pleasure or benefits derived; ability to control risks; peer approval; and, degree of parental upset. Factor analyses of each of the domains consistently found a distinction between high and low risk activities. A factor analysis of the 60 items (10 activities × 6 domains) identified three second-order factors: the inherent danger; the trade-off between pleasure and peer approval; and locus of control. There was significant variation in item ratings within domains with respect to sex, age, and type of school attended (private vs. public). It is suggested that attention to adolescent risk perception in addition to risk practice may offer significant opportunities for intervention to reduce adverse outcomes.