Self-presentational determinants of health risk behavior among college freshmen |
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Authors: | Kathleen A Martin Mark R Leary |
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Institution: | 1. McMaster University;2. Wake Forest University |
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Abstract: | Abstract This study examined adolescents' use of unhealthy and potentially dangerous behaviors for self-presentational reasons. At the start of their first semester at college, 110 freshmen (M age = 18.2) completed trait measures of self-presentational concern. At the end of the semester they were asked about their use of health risk behaviors as impression management tactics. Seventy-five percent of respondents reported performing at least 1 risky behavior for self-presentational reasons during their first college semester. The most common behaviors were smoking, drinking, driving recklessly and performing dangerous stunts. The desire to be perceived as “cool” or a “risk-taker” often prompted healdi risks. Modest correlations between the trait measures and health risk behaviors provided additional evidence that self-presentational motives sometimes play a role in adolescent health risk behavior. |
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Keywords: | Self-presentation Impression management Risk behavior Adolescents Health |
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