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Teens who believe they'll die young are more
likely to engage in risky behavior
University of Minnesota Medical School researcher Iris Borowsky, M.D.,
Ph.D., and colleagues found that one in seven adolescents believe that
it is highly likely that they will die before age 35, and this belief
predicted that the adolescents' would engage in risky behaviors. |
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| Borowsky and colleagues
analyzed data collected by the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent
Health, a nationally representative sample of more than 20,000 youth in
grades 7 through 12 during three separate study years. In the first set
of interviews, nearly 15 percent of adolescents predicted they had a
50/50 chance or less of living to age 35. Those who engaged in risky
behaviors such as illicit drug use, suicide attempts, fighting, or
unsafe sexual activity in the first year were more likely in subsequent
years to believe they would die at a young age. Vice versa, those who
predicted that they'd die young during the first interview were more
likely in later years to begin engaging in these same risky behaviors
and have poor health outcomes. Notably, these teens were significantly
more likely to be diagnosed with HIV/AIDS just six years later,
regardless of their sexual preference. "While
conventional wisdom says that teens engage in risky behaviors because
they feel invulnerable to harm, this study suggests that in some cases,
teens take risks because they overestimate their vulnerability,
specifically their risk of dying," Borowsky said. "These youth may take
risks because they feel hopeless and figure that not much is at stake."
Nearly 25 percent of youth living in households that
receive public assistance and more than 29 percent of American-Indian,
26 percent of African-American, 21 percent of Hispanic, and 15 percent
of Asian youth reported believing they would die young—compared to just
10 percent of their Caucasian peers.
"Our findings reinforce the importance of instilling a
sense of hope and optimism in youth," Borowsky said. "Strong connections
with parents, families, and schools, as well as positive media messages,
are likely important factors in developing an optimistic outlook for
young people."
She also notes that study findings support physician
screening of adolescents for this perceived risk of early death. "This
unusually common pessimistic view of the future is a powerful marker for
high-risk status and thus deserves attention."
There was no significant relationship between
perceived risk of dying before age 35 and actual death from all causes
during the six year study period.
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