Relationship between adolescent risk preferences on a laboratory task and behavioral measures of risk-taking

Uma Rao; Tanuj Sidhartha; Karen R. Harker; Anup S. Bidesi; Li Ann Chen; Monique Ernst

doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2010.06.008

Relationship between adolescent risk preferences on a laboratory task and behavioral measures of risk-taking

Uma Rao, Tanuj Sidhartha, Karen R. Harker, Anup S. Bidesi, Li Ann Chen, Monique Ernst

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

12 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: The goal of the study was to assess individual differences among adolescents regarding risk-taking behavior in the laboratory. The second aim was to evaluate whether the laboratory-based risk-taking behavior is associated with other behavioral and psychological measures associated with risk-taking behavior. Methods: A total of 82 adolescents with no personal history of psychiatric disorder completed a computerized decision-making task, the Wheel of Fortune. On the basis of the choices made between clearly defined probabilities and real monetary outcomes, this task assesses risk preferences when participants are confronted with potential rewards and losses. The participants also completed a variety of behavioral and psychological measures associated with risk-taking behavior. Results: Performance on the task varied on the basis of probability and anticipated outcomes. In the winning sub-task, participants selected low-probabilityhigh-magnitude reward (high-risk choice) less frequently than high-probabilitylow-magnitude reward (low-risk choice). In the losing sub-task, participants selected low-probabilityhigh-magnitude loss more often than high-probabilitylow-magnitude loss. On average, the selection of probabilistic rewards was optimal and similar to performance in adults. There were, however, individual differences in performance, and one-third of the adolescents made high-risk choice more frequently than low-risk choice while selecting a reward. After controlling for sociodemographic and psychological variables, high-risk choice on the winning task predicted "real-world" risk-taking behavior and substance-related problems. Conclusions: These findings highlight individual differences in risk-taking behavior. Regarding validity of the Wheel of Fortune task, the preliminary data suggest that it might be a valuable laboratory tool for studying behavioral and neurobiological processes associated with risk-taking behavior in adolescents.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	151-158
Number of pages	8
Journal	Journal of Adolescent Health
Volume	48
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2010.06.008
State	Published - Feb 2011
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Adolescent
Decision-making
Punishment
Reward
Risky behavior

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Psychiatry and Mental health

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10.1016/j.jadohealth.2010.06.008

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title = "Relationship between adolescent risk preferences on a laboratory task and behavioral measures of risk-taking",

abstract = "Purpose: The goal of the study was to assess individual differences among adolescents regarding risk-taking behavior in the laboratory. The second aim was to evaluate whether the laboratory-based risk-taking behavior is associated with other behavioral and psychological measures associated with risk-taking behavior. Methods: A total of 82 adolescents with no personal history of psychiatric disorder completed a computerized decision-making task, the Wheel of Fortune. On the basis of the choices made between clearly defined probabilities and real monetary outcomes, this task assesses risk preferences when participants are confronted with potential rewards and losses. The participants also completed a variety of behavioral and psychological measures associated with risk-taking behavior. Results: Performance on the task varied on the basis of probability and anticipated outcomes. In the winning sub-task, participants selected low-probabilityhigh-magnitude reward (high-risk choice) less frequently than high-probabilitylow-magnitude reward (low-risk choice). In the losing sub-task, participants selected low-probabilityhigh-magnitude loss more often than high-probabilitylow-magnitude loss. On average, the selection of probabilistic rewards was optimal and similar to performance in adults. There were, however, individual differences in performance, and one-third of the adolescents made high-risk choice more frequently than low-risk choice while selecting a reward. After controlling for sociodemographic and psychological variables, high-risk choice on the winning task predicted {"}real-world{"} risk-taking behavior and substance-related problems. Conclusions: These findings highlight individual differences in risk-taking behavior. Regarding validity of the Wheel of Fortune task, the preliminary data suggest that it might be a valuable laboratory tool for studying behavioral and neurobiological processes associated with risk-taking behavior in adolescents.",

keywords = "Adolescent, Decision-making, Punishment, Reward, Risky behavior",

author = "Uma Rao and Tanuj Sidhartha and Harker, {Karen R.} and Bidesi, {Anup S.} and Chen, {Li Ann} and Monique Ernst",

note = "Funding Information: This work was supported in part by grants from the National Institutes of Health ( DA14037 , DA15131 , DA17804 , DA17805 , MH62464 , MH68391 , and RR00633 ), and the Sarah M. and Charles E. Seay Endowed Chair in Child Psychiatry at UT Southwestern Medical Center. The authors are grateful to Dallas and Fort Worth Independent School Districts for their support in recruiting research participants and for providing office space for assessments at the Youth and Family Resource Centers.",

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doi = "10.1016/j.jadohealth.2010.06.008",

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journal = "Journal of Adolescent Health",

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AU - Sidhartha, Tanuj

AU - Harker, Karen R.

AU - Bidesi, Anup S.

AU - Chen, Li Ann

AU - Ernst, Monique

N1 - Funding Information: This work was supported in part by grants from the National Institutes of Health ( DA14037 , DA15131 , DA17804 , DA17805 , MH62464 , MH68391 , and RR00633 ), and the Sarah M. and Charles E. Seay Endowed Chair in Child Psychiatry at UT Southwestern Medical Center. The authors are grateful to Dallas and Fort Worth Independent School Districts for their support in recruiting research participants and for providing office space for assessments at the Youth and Family Resource Centers.

PY - 2011/2

Y1 - 2011/2

N2 - Purpose: The goal of the study was to assess individual differences among adolescents regarding risk-taking behavior in the laboratory. The second aim was to evaluate whether the laboratory-based risk-taking behavior is associated with other behavioral and psychological measures associated with risk-taking behavior. Methods: A total of 82 adolescents with no personal history of psychiatric disorder completed a computerized decision-making task, the Wheel of Fortune. On the basis of the choices made between clearly defined probabilities and real monetary outcomes, this task assesses risk preferences when participants are confronted with potential rewards and losses. The participants also completed a variety of behavioral and psychological measures associated with risk-taking behavior. Results: Performance on the task varied on the basis of probability and anticipated outcomes. In the winning sub-task, participants selected low-probabilityhigh-magnitude reward (high-risk choice) less frequently than high-probabilitylow-magnitude reward (low-risk choice). In the losing sub-task, participants selected low-probabilityhigh-magnitude loss more often than high-probabilitylow-magnitude loss. On average, the selection of probabilistic rewards was optimal and similar to performance in adults. There were, however, individual differences in performance, and one-third of the adolescents made high-risk choice more frequently than low-risk choice while selecting a reward. After controlling for sociodemographic and psychological variables, high-risk choice on the winning task predicted "real-world" risk-taking behavior and substance-related problems. Conclusions: These findings highlight individual differences in risk-taking behavior. Regarding validity of the Wheel of Fortune task, the preliminary data suggest that it might be a valuable laboratory tool for studying behavioral and neurobiological processes associated with risk-taking behavior in adolescents.

AB - Purpose: The goal of the study was to assess individual differences among adolescents regarding risk-taking behavior in the laboratory. The second aim was to evaluate whether the laboratory-based risk-taking behavior is associated with other behavioral and psychological measures associated with risk-taking behavior. Methods: A total of 82 adolescents with no personal history of psychiatric disorder completed a computerized decision-making task, the Wheel of Fortune. On the basis of the choices made between clearly defined probabilities and real monetary outcomes, this task assesses risk preferences when participants are confronted with potential rewards and losses. The participants also completed a variety of behavioral and psychological measures associated with risk-taking behavior. Results: Performance on the task varied on the basis of probability and anticipated outcomes. In the winning sub-task, participants selected low-probabilityhigh-magnitude reward (high-risk choice) less frequently than high-probabilitylow-magnitude reward (low-risk choice). In the losing sub-task, participants selected low-probabilityhigh-magnitude loss more often than high-probabilitylow-magnitude loss. On average, the selection of probabilistic rewards was optimal and similar to performance in adults. There were, however, individual differences in performance, and one-third of the adolescents made high-risk choice more frequently than low-risk choice while selecting a reward. After controlling for sociodemographic and psychological variables, high-risk choice on the winning task predicted "real-world" risk-taking behavior and substance-related problems. Conclusions: These findings highlight individual differences in risk-taking behavior. Regarding validity of the Wheel of Fortune task, the preliminary data suggest that it might be a valuable laboratory tool for studying behavioral and neurobiological processes associated with risk-taking behavior in adolescents.

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KW - Risky behavior

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Relationship between adolescent risk preferences on a laboratory task and behavioral measures of risk-taking

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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