Stability of Risk-Seeking From Adolescence to Emerging Adulthood

• NCJ Number: 239127
• Journal: Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 40 Issue: 4 Dated: July/August 2012 Pages: 313-322
• Author(s): Jamie Vaske; Jeffrey T. Ward; Danielle Boisvert; John Paul Wright
• Date Published: August 2012
• Length: 10 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: Netherlands

Annotation

The current study examines the stability of the risk-seeking component of self-control using a second-order latent class growth model.

Abstract

Longitudinal data from 962 respondents from the NLSY79-Child and Young Adult sample are used to examine the stability of the risk-seeking component of self-control from ages 14 to 23. Data reveal three trajectories of risk-seeking (low, moderate, and high) that maintain strong relative stability from adolescence through early adulthood. Further, two trajectories of risk-seeking (moderate and high) maintain absolute stability, whereas the low risk-seeking group exhibits statistically significant decreases in risk-seeking over time. The SOLCGA may provide a stricter test of the stability hypothesis since it accounts for measurement error in the construct prior to estimating the developmental trajectories. The results from the SOLCGA support Gottfredson and Hirschi's hypotheses that self-control will remain stable from adolescence into emerging adulthood. (Published Abstract)