Investigation of Motives for Adolescent Risk Taking in Terms of Egocentrism, Peer Pressure, Ses and Gender

Abstract

The aim of this study is to determine the motives for adolescents risk taking and to analyze motives for adolescent risk taking from the perspectives of egocentrism, peer pressure and socio-economic status variants. 905 students attending four high schools in Ankara took part in the research. There were four different measurement scales in the research. The first one is “Motives for Adolescents’ Risk Taking Scale” which Henry and Kloep’s (2001) classification was taken as the basis to determine the motives of risk taking in adolescents’. During the scale improvement stage correction and elucidation factor analyses were developed. Motives for Adolescents’ Risk Taking Scale, Revised Personal Fable, Revised Imaginary Audience and Peer Pressure Scale were used in this study. As a result of multiple linear regressions analyzes personal fable which is a dimension of egocentrism has been stated as the variable which has the most estimating power. The motives for adolescent risk taking are revealed by personal fable, imaginary audience and peer pressure and a developmental point of view is presented.

Keywords

• Adolescence, risk taking, egocentrism, personal fable, imaginary audience, peer pressure.

Ergenlerde Risk Almanın İçsel Kaynaklarının Benmerkezlilik, Akran Baskısı, Sosyo-Ekonomik Düzey ve Cinsiyet Açısından İncelenmesi

Öz

Bu çalışmanın amacı, ergenlerde risk almanın içsel kaynaklarının belirlenmesi ve risk almanın içsel kaynaklarının benmerkezlilik (kişisel söylence, hayali seyirci), akran baskısı ve sosyo-ekonomik değişkenler açısından incelenmesidir. Araştırmaya Ankara ili merkezinde farklı liselere devam eden 905 öğrenci katılmıştır. Araştırmada dört farklı ölçme aracı kullanılmıştır. İlki, ergenlerde risk almanın içsel kaynaklarını belirlemek amacıyla, Hendry ve Kloep’in (2001) sınıflaması temel alınarak, “Riskin İçsel Kaynakları Ölçeği” açımlayıcı ve doğrulayıcı faktör analizleri de kullanılarak geliştirilmiştir. Riskin İçsel Kaynakları Ölçeği, Yeniden Kişisel Söylence, Yeniden Hayali Seyirci ve Akran Baskısı Ölçeği bu çalışmada kullanılmıştır. Aşamalı regresyon analizi sonucunda benmerkezliliğin bir boyutu olan kişisel söylencenin, risk almanın içsel kaynaklarını yordama gücü en fazla olduğu saptanmıştır. Diğer yordayıcılar sırasıyla, akran baskısı, hayali seyirci, sosyoekonomik düzey ve cinsiyettir. Sosyoekonomik düzey ve cinsiyet ile kişisel söylence, hayali seyirci ve akran baskısı arasında anlamlı ama orta düzeyde ilişkiler ortaya çıkmıştır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Ergen, risk alma, benmerkezlilik, kişisel söylence, hayali seyirci, akran baskısı

Kaynakça

1. Arnett, J.J.(2000). Emerging Adulthood, American Psychologist, 5 (55), 469–480.
2. Arnett, J.J. and Balle- Jensen (1993). Cultural Bases of Risk Behavior: Danish Adolescent, Child Development, 64, 1842–1855.
3. Ayata, S. (2005). Yeni Orta Sınıf ve Uydu Kent Yaşamı, Kültür Fragmanları (içinde) (Hazırlayanlar: Deniz Kandiyoti, Ayşe Saktanber), İstanbul: Metis Yay.
4. Bauman, K. E. and S.T. Ennett. (1996).On the Importance of Peer Influence for Adolescent Drug Use: Commonly Neglected Considerations. Addiction, 9, 185–198.
5. Beck, U.(1992). Risk Society. Towards a New Modernity. London: Sage Publication.
6. Bell, N. and Bell, R. (1992). Adolescent Risk Taking. California: Sage Publication.
7. Boyer, T.W.(2006). The Development of Risk Taking: A Multi-Perspective Review, Development Review, 26, 291–345.
8. Bromnick R.D and Bell, J.H.,. (2003). The Social Reality of the Imaginary Audience: A Grounded Theory Approach, Adolescence, 38(150). 205–219.

9. Brejard, V., Bonnet, J. Pedinielli, L. (2006). Regulation Des Emotions, Depression et Conduites Risques: L’alexityymie, un Facteur Moderateur (Emotion regulation, Depression and Risk Taking Behaviour: Alexithymia as a Moderating Factor). Annales Medica Psychologiques, In press.
10. Cantania,J.A., Dolcini, M., Coates,T., Kegeles, S.M., Greenblatt, R.M., Puckett, S., Corman, M., Miller, J. (1989). Predictors of Condom Use and Multiple Partnered Sex among Sexually Active Adolescent Woman: Implications for AIDS – Related Health Interventions. Journal of Sex Research, 26, 514–524.
11. Carr, M.B. (2001). Risk and Protective Factors Among Youth Offenders. Adolescence, 36 (143), 409– 4
12. Creswell, W.J.(1994). Research Design: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches, Sage Publication, USA.
13. Elkind, D.(1967). Adolescence Egocentrism, Child Development, 38, 1025–1034.
14. Ernst, M., Grant, S. J., London, E. D., Contoreggi, C. S., Kimes, A. S. and Spurgeon, L. (2003). Decision Making in Adolescents with Behavior Disorders and Adults with Substance Abuse. American Journal of Psychiatry, 160, 33–40.
15. Farrell, A. D. and White, K. S. (1998). Peer Influences and Drug Use among Urban Adolescents: Family Structure and Parent-Adolescent Relationship as Protective Factors. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 66, 248–258.
16. Furlong, A. and Cartmel, F. (1997). Young People and Social Change: Individualization and Risk in Late Modernity. USA: Open University Press.
17. Greene, K., Krcmar, M., Walters, L.H., Rubin, D.L., Hale, J. and Hale, L. (2000). Targeting Adolescent Risk Taking Behaviors: The Contributions of Egocentrism and Sensation Seeking, Journal of Adolescence, 23, 439–461.
18. Gullone, E., Moore, S., (2000). Adolescent Risk-Taking and The Five Factor Model of Personality. Journal of Adolescence, 23, 393–407.
19. Güney, N. ve Çok, F. (2006). Adolescent risk-taking: Calculated risks, Turkish Experience.
20. (Ergenlerde Risk Alma: Hesaplanmış Riskler) 10th Conference of the European Association for Research on Adolescence, 2–6 Mayıs 2006, Antalya.
21. Güney, N.(2007). Ergenlikte risk almanın içsel kaynaklarının benmerkezlilik, akran baskısı, sosyo-ekonomik düzey ve cinsiyet açısından incelenmesi, Yayımlanmamış Doktora Tezi
22. Ankara Üniversitesi Eğitim Bilimleri Enstitüsü, Ankara. Helsen, M.,Vollebergh, W. and Meeus,W. (2000). Social Support from Parents and Friends and Emotional Problems in Adolescence, Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 29 (3), 319–335.
23. Hendry,. B L. and Kloep, M. (2001). One Risk in Time Saves Nine, Psykologis Tidksift, 4, 4- 9.
24. Hendry, B. L. and Kloep, M. (2002). Life Span Development: Resources, Challenges and Risks: Thomson and Learning Press.
25. Igra, V., and Irwin, C. E. Jr. (1996). Theories of Adolescent Risk-Taking Behavior.. J. DiClemente, W. B. Hansen, and L. E. Ponton (Editör.), Handbook of Adolescent Health Risk Behavior (İçinde), New York: Plenum.
26. Irwin, C. (1993). Adolescence and Risk Taking: How are They Related? Bell, N. J.and Bell, R. W. (Editör). Adolescent Risk Taking (İçinde) Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications.
27. Irwin C., Millstein S.G. (1986). Biopsychosocial Correlates of Risk-Taking Behaviors During Adolescence. Journal of Adolescence Health Care, 7, 82–96.
28. Jessor, R.(1998). New Perspective on Adolescent Risk Behavior, NY: Cambridge University Press.
29. Jessor, R., and Jessor, S.L. (1977). Problem Behavior and Psycho-social Development: A Longitudinal Study of Youth. New York: Academy Press.
30. Jessor, R., Turbin, M. S., Costa, F. M., Dong, Q., Zhang, H., and Wang, C. (2003). Adolescent Problem Behavior in China and the United States: A Cross-National Study of Psychosocial Protective Factors. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 13, 329–360.
31. Johnson, S.M., Costanzo, P.R., Coie, J.D., Rose, M.R., Browne, D.C. and Johnson, C.(2003). Peer Social Structure and Risk Taking Behaviors among African American Early Adolescents, Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 32(5), 375–384.
32. Kıran B. (1999). Akran Baskısı Düzeyi Farklı Olan Öğrencilerin Risk Alma, Sigara İçme Davranışı ve Okul Başarılarının İncelenmesi. Yayımlanmamış Doktora Tezi, Gazi Üniversitesi, Eğitim Bilimleri Enstitüsü, Ankara.
33. Lapsley, D.K., Flannery, D.J., Gottschlich, H. and Raney, M.(1996). Sources of risk and resilience in adolescent mental health. Paper presented at Sixth Biennial Meeting of the Society for Research on Adolescence, Boston, March 9, 1996. USA.
34. Lightfoot, C. (1997). The Culture of Adolescent Risk Taking. New York: The Guildford Press.
35. Little, M. and Steinberg, L.(2006). Psychosocial Correlates of Adolescent Drug Dealing in the Inner City, Potential Roles of Opportunity, Conventional Commitments, and Maturity. Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, 43 ( 4), 357–386
36. Maxwell, K.A.(2002). Friends: The Role of Peer Influence Across Adolescent Risk Behaviors, Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 31(4), 267–277.
37. Miller, D.C. and Byrnes, J.P. (1997). The Role of Contextual and Personal Factors in Children’s Risk Taking. Developmental Psychology, 33, 814–823.
38. Özbay, H., Göka, E., Mavili Aktas, A., Öztürk, E., Sahin, N. ve Güngör, S.(1991). Ergenlerde Sigara, Alkol ve Madde Kullanımının Benlik İmajı, Depresyon ve Anksiyete Ölçümleri ile İlişkileri. Düşünen Adam Psikiyatri ve Nörolojik Bilimler Dergisi, 4(3), 53–58.
39. Parsons, J.T., Siegel, A.W. and Cousins, J.H. (1997). Late Adolescent Risk Taking: Effects of Perceived Benefits and Perceived Risks on Behavioral Intentions and Behavioral Change, Journal of Adolescence, 20, 381–392.
40. Rolison, M. and Scherman, A.(2002).Factor Influencing Adolescent’s Decision to Engage in Risk Taking Behaviour. Adolescence, 37(147), 585–596.
41. Santor, D., Messervey, D. and Kusumakar, V. (2000). Measuring Peer Pressure, Popularity, and Conformity in Adolescent Boys and Girls: Predicting School Performance, Sexual Attitudes, and Substance Abuse, Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 29 (2), 163–182.
42. Scott, D.(2004) Program Outcomes for Youth Reduction of Risk Behaviors in Youth including: Risk Taking. 20 Mart 2004 tarihinde http://ag.arizona.edu/fcs/cyfernet/nowg/ythrisktake.html adresinden indirildi.
43. Siegell, A. W. and Cousin, J.H.(1994). Adolescents’ Perception of the Benefits and Risks of Their Own Risk Taking. Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, 2(2), 89- 99.
44. Steinberg, R. (2002). Adolescence (6. Baskı), NY: McGraw-Hill Higher Education.
45. Steinberg, L. Lamborn, S. Darling, N. Mounts, N. and Dornbusch, S. (1994). Over- time Changes in Adjustment and Competence among Adolescents from Authorative, Authoritarian, Indulgent and Neglectful Families. Child Development, 65, 754–770.
46. Usmiani, S. and Daniluk, J. (1997).Mothers and their Adolescent Daughters: Relationship between Self-Esteem, Gender Role Identity, and Body Image. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 26, 45–
47. Urgberg, K.A.,Değirmencioğlu, S.M. and Pilgrim, C.(1997). Close Friend and Group Influence on Adolescent Cigarrette Smoking and Alcohol Use. Developmental Psychology, 33(5), 834–844.
48. Wichstrom, L.(1999). The Emergence of Gender Differences in Depressed Mood during Adolescence: The Role of Intensified Gender Role Socialization. Developmental Psychology, 35, 232–45.
49. Vartanian, L.R.(2000). Revisiting the Imaginary Audience and Personal Fable Constructs of Adolescent Egocentrisim: A Conceptual Review, Adolescence, 35 (140), 639–661.
50. Vogel, J.S., Hurford, D.P., Smith, V.J. and Cole, A. (2003). The Relationship between Depression and Smoking in Adolescents, Adolescence, 38 (149), 57–74.
51. Yılmaz T (2000) Ergenlerde Risk Alma Davranışlarının İncelenmesi. Ege Üniversitesi, Sosyal Bilimler Enstitisü, Psikoloji ABD. Yayımlanmamış Yüksek Lisans Tezi, İzmir