The Effects of Sensation Seeking and Socialization on Risk Taking Behavior among Adolescent Girls and Boys

감각추구성향과 사회화 요인이 남녀 청소년의 위험행동에 미치는 영향

The purpose of this research was to examine the effects of sensation seeking and socialization on the risk taking behavior of adolescents. The subjects were 460 3rd year high school adolescents (272 boys and 188 girls) in Seoul, Korea. Data were collected through questionnaires, including the Arnett Inventory of Sensation Seeking (1994) a socialization scale (mother's parenting style, parent's open communication and relationship with friends), and a risk taking scale devised by the researcher. The results showed that both the degree of sensation seeking and the socialization process influenced risk taking behaviors in both males and females. The effect of sensation seeking on risk taking behavior was mediated by the degree of communication with fathers for male but not for female adolescents. For males, sensation seeking directly and indirectly influenced risk taking behaviors through closeness with risk taking friends. For females, sensation seeking did not directly influence risk taking behavior but had an indirect influence through closeness with risk taking friends. Implications were discussed in terms of sensation seeking and socialization.