Abstract
dc:description.abstractThis thesis explored contemporary risk-taking within the Canadian adolescent population. It involved two quantitative studies and one qualitative study. Quantitatively, it involved a psychometric analysis to develop and validate new adolescent risk-taking scales focused on engagement in contemporary risk behaviours. This was extended by relating scaled measures of risk-taking to reports of psychosomatic symptoms. Qualitatively, the thesis examined current opinions and perspectives of adolescents with respect to engagement in contemporary risk behaviours using a sample of adolescents and followed a grounded theory approach. In study one, indicators of new and evolved risk behaviours available from a national population health survey of adolescents (Health Behaviour in School-aged Children Study (HBSC)) were tested psychometrically to develop novel scales to describe adolescent engagement in contemporary risk-taking. Through latent constructs, the scales were used to identify risk clusters that potentially increased adolescents’ propensity to engage in certain risk behaviours. The final scales consisted of three correlated distinct risk clusters of contemporary risk-taking (online risk-behaviours, contemporary forms of substance use, and sexting engagement). In study two, further testing of the latent constructs (contemporary risk-taking) was carried out using structural equation modelling. The construct validity of the scales was assessed through looking at its relationship of engagement in contemporary risk-taking and psychosomatic symptoms. Confirming our hypothesis, a positive relationship between clustered contemporary risk-taking and psychosomatic symptoms was present. A moderation analysis was employed to look at differences in this relationship in the population by sex. It was determined that there was no moderation present and the overall model was accurately reflecting this relationship similarly in males and females suggesting suitable use of these scales across the overall population. Finally, study three investigated the current views of adolescents on contemporary risk-taking using a qualitative methodology. This study used one-on-one interviews with a constructivist grounded theory approach to understand what the current landscape of risk-taking looks like from adolescents’ perspectives. Findings included risk propensities shaped through group affiliations based on whether the adolescent was considered part of two distinct groups: risk-takers or non-risk-takers. This adaptive risk-taking theory added valuable information with respect to adolescent risk-taking and suggests that adolescent opinions on risk-taking vary vastly based on learned knowledge on risk-taking, how they define risk-taking, and their own perceived social norms. All three studies demonstrated the importance of evaluating contemporary adolescent risk-taking through multiple approaches. For focused preventative efforts addressing negative risk behaviours and to promote positive risk behaviours, it is essential to have updated measures to capture adolescent risk-taking in conjunction with understanding the context of how adolescents perceive risk-taking in the modern world.
Degree
thesis:*- Name thesis:degree_name
- Ph.D. Applied Health Sciences
- Level thesis:degree_level
- Doctoral
- Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
- Faculty of Applied Health Sciences
- Department dc:contributor.department
- Applied Health Sciences Program
- Grantor dc:publisher
- Brock University
- Year dc:date.issued
- 2026
Author and committee
dc:creator, dc:contributor.*- Author dc:creator
-
- Larissa Tiffany Lobo
- Advisor dc:contributor.advisor
-
- Dr. William Pickett
Subjects
dc:subject × 3Rights
dc:rights- Statement dc:rights
-
- Attribution 4.0 International
- Licence dc:rights.uri
- Language dc:language.iso
- eng
Identifiers
dc:identifier.*- Handle dc:identifier.uri
- https://hdl.handle.net/10464/20120
- OAI identifier oai:identifier
- oai:brocku.scholaris.ca:10464/20120