The relationships between emerging adults’ expressed desire to marry and frequency of participation in risk-taking behaviors

Citation

Willoughby, Brian J. & Dworkin, Jodi (2009). The relationships between emerging adults' expressed desire to marry and frequency of participation in risk-taking behaviors. Youth and Society. vol. 40 (3) pp. 426-450

Abstract

The impact that desire to marry has on risk-taking behaviors during emerging adulthood is examined in the current investigation using nationally representative data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health). Looking both at the simple relationships between desire to marry and risk-taking behaviors, as well as the possible predictive power desire to marry could have on binge drinking, marijuana use, and sexual behaviors, data revealed that attitudes toward marriage may be an important component of emerging adulthood and risk-taking research. Results indicate that desire to marry was predictive of several risk-taking behaviors for both men and women even after controlling for other known predictors of risk-taking. Implications for future research are discussed.

URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1177%2F0044118X08318116

Reference Type

Journal Article

Journal Title

Youth and Society

Author(s)

Willoughby, Brian J.
Dworkin, Jodi

Year Published

2009

Volume Number

40

Issue Number

3

Pages

426-450

DOI

10.1177/0044118X08318116

Reference ID

987