Work

Is the impact of high reward sensitivity and poor cognitive control on adolescent risk-taking more visible in rewarding conditions?

Year: 2021

Type: article

Abstract: Adolescents are expected to take more risks than adults. The presented study was designed to determine whether adolescent risk-taking results from high reward sensitivity and poor cognitive control. In particular, we aimed to examine whether the impact of these variables is more visible in rewarding than non-rewarding conditions. Ninety adolescents (aged 13–16) and 95 young adults (aged 20–28) took part in the study. We used a driving task in rewarded and non-rewarded conditions to measure risk-taking. We also used tasks measuring reward sensitivity, cognitive control and impulsivity. Additionally we used self-report measures of reward sensitivity, self-control and everyday risk-taking to see whether the effects observed for self-reports mimic the effects observed for behavioral tasks. We found that the higher the reward sensitivity, the more adolescents (but not adults) risk in the rewarded condition of a driving task. We found no impact of cognitive control or impulsivity on risk-taking, regardless of age and condition. At the self-report level, we found that the higher the reward sensitivity and the poorer the self-control, the more both adolescents and adults displayed everyday risk-taking behavior.

Source: Current Psychology

DOI: 10.1007/s12144-021-01769-6

Authors: Joanna Fryt, Tomasz Smoleń, Karolina Czernecka, Monika Szczygieł, Amelia La Torre

Institutions: Uniwersytet Komisji Edukacji Narodowej w Krakowie, Jagiellonian University

Language: English

Topic: Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies

Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience

Field: Neuroscience

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $2,780